My soul, you greatly need this oil because your lamp will  not burn long without it. The wick will smoke offensively when its flame goes out, but it will not relight once the oil is gone. There is no oil well springing up from within your human nature, therefore you must go to Him who can supply you with oil or you will be like the foolish virgins, who cried out, “Our lamps are going out” (Matt. 25:8)! Even the consecrated oil lamps of the temple in Jerusalem could not give light without oil. Though they shone in that holy building, they needed a constant supply of oil, and though no strong winds blew on them, their wicks needed to be trimmed. your need is equally as great, for even under the happiest of circumstances you cannot give light for another hour unless the fresh oil of grace is given to you.

Yet not just any oil could be used in the Lord’s service in the temple — not the petroleum that flows so plentifully from the earth, oil from fish, nor the oil extracted from various nuts. Only olive oil was selected and it had to be the very best. Likewise, no counterfeit grace arising from natural goodness, nor imaginary grace from Go’s priest or his piritual ceremonies, will ever serve the true saint of God. He knows the Lord would not be pleased even with rivers of such oil. Instead, he must go to the olive press of Gethsemane and draw his supply from Him who was crushed in it.

The oil of true gospel grace is pure and free from dregs and other impurities; thus, the light it fuels is clear and bright. Our churches are the Savior’s golden candelabra and if they are to be bright lights in this dark world, they need a great supply of holy oil. May we pray for ourselves and our ministers and churches that they will never lack oil for their light. The beams of this sacred light are truth, holiness, joy, knowledge, and love, but we cannot shine them forth unless, through private devotion, we received the oil from God the Holy Spirit.

~ Charles Spurgeon

Could you pray for wisdom and discernment for me and Lisa? One of the things that has been impressed on us over the course of this “interesting” summer has been the need for change. I am currently working a handful of jobs, serving in a handful of ministries as well as taking classes and attempting to be a husband and father. Now that Lisa is no longer employed as a nanny, our total income for all of my jobs doesn’t even cover rent.

Things need to change. We are looking at making a decision somewhere in the following spectrum:

• Either quit all my part-time jobs, find a full-time career level position and reduce my seminary course load to 1 course a semester. This would delay my graduation by a number of years, but would provide stability for our family.
• Drastically reduce my work and focus on family and school, driving forward to graduate in the next 1 – 1.5 years.

Obviously the second option is the most desirable. I don’t think that God led us here to seminary for me to go back into human resources and legal compliance. That said, it is hard for me as the “provider” (I know that God is the true provider…) to step away from work, even when it is not meeting our needs.

Later this week I will be publishing another post I have been working on titled, “Simplify” that addresses the insanity of my schedule and my tendency to over commit. That would be a large part of the current stress that is on our life. I need to learn to say “no” and not to be so driven by the opinions and desires of others. It’s a painful lesson…

Please pray that God would make this clear to us as we seek His will for our present and future ministry!

In 1978 Paul Giovanni made his mark on Broadway with this show. A show he wrote, directed and designed led him to his first Tony Award nomination. A suspenseful, dark and at times even fun story opens in the far-off land of India during the years of English rule and occupation. Here we learn of cursed jewels and three men who enter into an ill-advised oath. An oath so dark and so secret that it contained no words – just the symbol of a crucifer to bind them to the memory.

Chuck Huber as Holmes

With the stage set, we find ourselves in the home of everyone’s favorite detective at 221-B Baker Street as he attempts to exorcise his demons by playing the violin. Failing miserably, he turns to his needle and cocaine. The role of Holmes is played admirably by Chuck Huber. He handles the eccentricities of being far above us in brilliance so well, I wonder if Chuck himself doesn’t often amaze his friends with his keen observations. As always we have Dr. Watson on hand to ground our genius detective and to provide a human element to the story. Austin Tindle plays the doctor convincingly. Refreshingly not as a bumbling fool as many choose, but as a competent man of character and integrity. Well done, Austin!

Irene St. Claire (Hilary Couch) had the challenge of playing the sole female part in the production. I didn’t feel as though she was owning her character for the majority of the show – but in the final scene, she demonstrated passion and truly came into her own as the show hit it’s climax.

Another memorable performance was provided by Gregory Lush playing the part of Major Alistair Ross. He had fun with his part, and we all loved the way he took over the stage whenever he was provided with the opportunity. Everyone playing opposite Gregory shone that much brighter when he shared the stage with him.

I must take a moment to point out what was to me the best part of the entire production. The set design by the director, Jeffrey Schmidt, was simply outstanding. Theatre in the round can often be a challenge, but Jeffrey won that battle. Using multiple tiers, moving set pieces controlled by hand cranked gears and grills through which smoke would come, Jeffrey created a wonderful world for his actors to explore. Brilliant. Accompanying this wonderful set design was perfect lighting designed by Amanda West and sound designed by Marco Salinas. The first comment I made to my friend who joined me for the show was how the mood was set the moment we walked into the theatre by the lighting. The trinity of light, sound and set design made this a memorable evening. Thank you!

When I arrived home this evening to write this review, I checked out the press packet and saw that this production was being re-imagined from the original by giving it a steampunk edge. In hindsight, I suppose I can see it – but as a fan of the steampunk genre, I didn’t get that impression during the show itself. One mystery that plagued me throughout the production concerned this strange red slash of color on the forehead of leading lady Irene St. Clair. At first, I thought it might have something to do with the crucifer of blood. But nothing was said. Then I concluded it must have been a last minute mistake backstage that couldn’t be corrected before she had to hit her mark. But then the mark stayed…scene, after scene. Then, mysteriously, and without any explanation or fanfare, the mark disappeared for the final scene of the show. I was baffled – and to be honest, a bit distracted by this red mark. Now that I see this tip of the hat to steampunk, I assume that was part of the feel. My suggestion? Hilary Couch is a lovely young woman. Don’t allow this visual mystery to distract from her performance.

What Sherlock Holmes story isn’t complete without plucky comic relief? Typically done by Watson, this time we had the perpetually in the dark Inspector Lestrade played by Jackie Cabe to thank for our laughs. His comic timing, fumbling investigative techniques and bouts of seasickness kept us all smiling when he hit the boards. A wonderful performance!

All in all, a fun show. Wonderful performances by the cast, a unique and enjoyable venue, and a light story that will not make you think to hard, but will keep you entertained! Be sure to support the arts and Theater Three by picking up your tickets for Sherlock Holmes in the Crucifer of Blood, running through September 5th.

Reviewed by ASSOCIATE THEATER CRITIC, Sten-Erik Armitage , THE COLUMN

That night in the ER was traumatic, to say the least. Anja had to endure multiple blood draws, IVs, a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) as well as a drug that played with her mental state, confusing and terrifying her. After about 8 hours in the ER, Anja was admitted so they could try to figure out what was causing these movements.

Shot from Anja's MRA

The next week was full of testing. CT scans, X-Rays, multiple MRIs, and many others were run, examined and often run again. Children’s Hospital was amazing. We had literal teams of doctors coming into our room to talk to us and examine Anja. What was impressive to me was the fact that these doctors didn’t just walk in, get what they needed, then walk out. They stayed, answered our questions, and spent quality time with us and our daughter. Amazing.

Our experience felt eerily like an episode of House. It seemed like every test either came up with nothing when they expected something, or it came up with something when they expected nothing! The movements on her right side are something called Sydenham’s Chorea. This is something that is often a key symptom of Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF). This is very rare in the US and is considered a third-world disease. The odd thing is that Anja has never had a strep infection which is the cause of ARF.

They ran the first MRI just to rule out anything neurological. But of course, since they were expecting to see nothing… One of the most startling moments of our hospital stay is when the Neurology team came in to tell us that the MRI revealed “spots” on the brain and that they would need to run additional tests. As of right now, we believe that these spots on the brain are lesions that remain as a result of micro-strokes that Anja has experienced. This is a bit alarming as ARF typically has no neurological involvement.

Her heart, on the other hand, shows the classic signs of ARF. The cardiology team was able to verify that there has been permanent damage to the heart that has resulted in one of her valves being compromised. Fortunately we caught this early enough that immediate valve or heart replacement is not necessary. If Anja hadn’t manifested the Sydenham’s Chorea, within six months she could have went into heart failure. God is good!

Although we still have more questions than answers, Anja is now home! Her symptoms remain, although they have become more subtle. One of the more challenging symptoms would the behavioral issues. But knowing that these issues are a symptom helps us be more patient. This too shall pass! How can you pray? I’m glad you asked.

Pray that the damage that has been done to Anja’s heart will stop as a result of treatment. Although this is a condition that will require life-long attention and medication, if we can stop the heart damage, no surgery will be necessary. We will be seeing a cardiologist in a few months to see how the heart is doing. They are optimistic, as are we. If her heart stays the same, we’ll just need to continue medication and see the cardiologist every six months to check on things. If it declines, surgery is the likely response.

We will also be seeing a neurologist again to follow up on the unexpected micro-strokes. Pray that testing will reveal no new lesions, and we can walk away from this mystery unsolved, but no longer in danger.

Finally, pray for Lisa (and me). We need to find peace in this storm. Thank you for all your kind words, cards and emails. You are a blessing to us!

GrandPa's Funeral - Military Honors

During finals week for the Spring semester, I rushed to California to care for my grandfather. (I wrote about that here.) Although that was difficult, it was good to be able to see my grandfather. My father joined me on this trip, and I’m thankful for the time we had to talk in the car and at my Grandfather’s cabin. The day before I left I was able to have a long talk with my grandfather in the hospital as we were arranging for hospice care. I am so thankful that I had that opportunity before he passed away. Although I missed a summer class I had registered for to make this trip, that is a small price to pay to connect with family at such a crucial time.

I returned home – but it was less than a week before my grandfather passed away. Due to the generosity of my father, Lisa and I were able to fly out to California for my grandfather’s funeral. For many reasons, that was a very difficult process. It was good to see family and friends again, but this wasn’t the type of reunion one desires.

Once Lisa and I returned to Dallas, I turned my attention towards catching up on all the work that I had let slide with my responsibilities at church as well as preparing for my Hebrew summer class that would be starting in a couple of weeks. But God wasn’t done with us yet! I was excited and nervous to be preaching my first sermon at my home church. I was sitting at a local coffee shop the Saturday before I was supposed to preach doing some last minute preparation. Then came the dreaded phone call.

Lisa, in tears, told me that we needed to rush Anja (my 8 year old daughter) to the emergency room. I packed up, and drove straight home. To make a very long story short, that sermon I was preparing for was one that would never be preached. We spent several days in the hospital with Anja, going through test after test. She is home now, although we have a long road ahead of us concerning her health and treatment plan. I will fill in those details in a subsequent blog post. (Promise!)

Now I’m looking at the calendar and seeing that the Fall semester begins in three weeks. Where has my summer gone? Both classes I had planned on taking had to be withdrawn from as a result of all that has happened. This could result in my graduation from DTS being delayed a full year, but time will tell. Although this is a summer that I never wish to repeat, even now I can see the lessons God has been teaching us as well as how we have been fundamentally changed as a result. I don’t think we ever will have an answer as to “why” God allows what He allows…But I do know I can trust Him through it all!

Beauty and the Beast started life as the hit 1991 Disney film of the same name.

The move from screen to stage was effortlessly done with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton. With seven new songs for the stage production, Beauty proved to be a Broadway smash hit. Running from 1994 to 2007, it became Broadway’s sixth-longest running production in history.

Photo Credit - Peter Coombs

Rob Roth directs this fourth national tour with mixed results. I was amazed by the detail and beauty of the scenic design done by Stanley Meyer. Using limited stage space and impressive “set choreography,” they created a captivating opening number. In addition, the costumes throughout the show were of the highest quality. I would expect nothing less from a Disney production!

That said, I felt as though the vocal and stage presence of the cast were almost robotic at times. Although Belle (Liz Shivener) and Gaston (Nathaniel Hackmann) brought their amazing voices to the part, there was no fluidity in many of their numbers. I could almost see the score with stage instructions being followed note by note. These wonderful performers need to take hold of their parts and make them their own and that fluidity will come!

As a contrast to these somewhat robotic movements, we have the incredible performances by Lefou (Michael Fatica), Cogsworth (Keith Kirkwood), and Lumiere (Merritt David Janes). These three men embodied the spirit of their characters. With perfect comic timing and flawless delivery, they stole the show. The physical comedy of Lefou was brilliant. It was through the performance of Lefou that he made Gaston shine — the perfect sidekick in every way.

Although seemingly forced at times, the skill of these actors as performers was demonstrated through the demanding choreography in the number “Gaston.” Building up throughout the number in intensity, it concluded with a full cast engaging in synchronized mug clanking and raucous dance. It was flawlessly executed and one of the high points of the show.

The award for the best vocal performance of the night goes to Mrs. Potts (Sabina Petra). Even as I write these lines, the memory of her performance of the title song, “Beauty and the Beast,” brings goose bumps to my arms. She sung with such hope, softness, and beauty that the audience was transported from their seats and drawn into the scene with Belle and the Beast. For me, it was the highlight of the evening.

On a technical front, there were a number of sound glitches throughout the show, primarily in the first half. I chalk them up to opening night kinks that will be worked out in time. However, these sound glitches demonstrated the excellence of the venue. Even when the performer’s voice wasn’t being amplified by their mic, the acoustics of the theatre carried their voices throughout the hall.

Now that you have read all of that, return to my daughter’s line at the beginning of this review. Take that, and combine it with her other comment about the show. In response to my asking her how she would describe the performance she said, “Very magical.” Don’t hesitate.

Hop online to www.attpac.org and buy your tickets for Beauty and the Beast today. But don’t go alone. To truly be carried away by this Disney musical, you need to have your favorite young person along with you to capture this “very magical” evening!

~ Sten-Erik Armitage, Associate Theatre Critic for John Garcia’s The Column & Pegasus News

This production was the Broadway debut of household name and one of America’s favorite funny ladies, Carol Burnett. She set the standard with her performance as Princess Winnifred the Woebegone. The script takes a satirical twist to the old tale, “The Princess and the Pea.” The kingdom is under a horrible law established by Queen Aggravain that states, “Throughout the land no one may wed, ’till Dauntless shares his wedding bed.” Dauntless (the Drab) is the coddled, spineless and, well … drab son of Aggravain and the mute King Sextimus.

Photo Courtesy of Runway Theater

This law has driven the kingdom to despair. There is truly an opening for a Princess here. The production picks up the tale with the 12th princess to be tested by the pesky Wizard under the manipulative auspices of the Queen. Princess #12 (Audrey Seifert) does quite well with the questions dealing with the history of St. George and the dragon … until the last question. Sadly, she was thwarted because she did not know the middle name of the daughter-in-law of the best friend of the blacksmith who forged the sword that killed the beast. Now that the stage is set, prepare to be introduced to the indefatigable Princess Winifred!

Once Upon a Mattress has been a perennial favorite of local theater companies over the years. One of the challenges of the show is keeping it fresh. Andy Baldwin does so by taking an interesting twist on the setting. Traditionally set in the medieval realm in the year 1428, he transports his cast 500 years into the future to 1928, giving the show an exciting vaudevillian feel. With one exception, this was an excellent move!

There is not a bad seat in the house at the charming Runway Theatre. Once seated, we were faced with a simple red curtain and anticipation.

The set was minimal, giving the actors room to create with their performances and our imagination. The show began with the Minstrel (Shane Strawbridge) coming out strumming a ukulele looking at all the world like Charlie Chaplin. Sadly, Shane had difficulty staying on key as he attempted to accompany himself and sing “Many Moons Ago” to set the stage for the evening. It was a rough start to the show. I also felt that his Chaplinesque movements throughout the show served more as a distraction than setting the period. Other than that, the move to 1928 was done very well!

It wasn’t long, however, before my nervousness about the show was set aside. One of the great tensions of the plot exists in the relationship between the brave Sir Harry and the lovely Lady Larken who find themselves in a bit of a predicament. Despite the Queen’s order, it appears as though Harry and Lady Larken may have violated more than the spirit of the law. One of the best sight gags of the show is the very pregnant Lady Larken waddling around the stage while everyone is oblivious to her condition. Our Lady Larken (Rachel Robertson) executes this throughout the play with great physical comedy and style.

Her performance and her singing, along with her erstwhile lover Sir Harry (Michael P. Rausch), were some of the highlights of the evening. They played off of each other perfectly in every number. As soon as they started singing “In a Little While,” the rough start to the show faded from memory. Both of these performers are strong vocalists, but they also proved to be incredibly emotive (and funny) actors as well through their singing. Not always an easy feat!

Then came my “Wow” moment. When Princess Winnifred (Shelbie Mac) climbed out of the moat (She swam the moat, mama!) she took my breath away. Not since Carol Burnett have I been so captivated by the singing of “Shy!” The lovely Shelbie Mac nailed this number vocally, and pulled the entire audience in with her performance. Absolutely brilliant!

This high point was followed by a number of other captivating performances. The Minstrel redeemed himself along with the Jester (Darius Anthony Robinson) and King Sextimus (Dave Harper) in their song about friendship, “The Minstrel, Jester and I.” Dave Harper said more without a word then most people speak in a day! He played his part to a tee, even when his crown kept flying off of his head!

Another high point was when Shelbie sang to us of Winnifred’s lovely “Swamps of Home.” Again, her vocals, body language, and facial expression were priceless throughout this number. The ensemble (Kelsey Andrae, Joy McKay and Libby Sherman), dressed as 1920s flappers, provided the perfect comedic backdrop to her singing — each of those girls were simply amazing!

I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about Prince Dauntless played by Cameron Mumford. Fresh out of high school, Cameron slouched around the stage with perfect facial expressions and naiveté. He has a great future ahead of him! There wasn’t a moment where his character slipped, even when he was not in the spotlight. Well done, Cameron!

Other than the rough start, the only other musical disappointment was in the traditionally high energy, frantic, and slightly insane “Spanish Panic.” I don’t feel as though choreographer Darius Anthony Robinson took advantage of this number to demonstrate his skills and that of his cast. The number passed by quickly, without leaving much of an impression, although it did serve its purpose in the plot, so this is a minor quibble.

The first half of the show closed with the intense “Song of Love” performed by Dauntless, Winnifred, and cast. High energy, comedic timing, and another opportunity for both Mac and Mumford to shine — and shine they did!

Entering into Act II, we saw some of the best performances of the night. Miss Mac elicited our sympathies as she sang “Happily Ever After.” The King had us rolling in the aisles as he had his man-to-man talk with Dauntless — without a single word. Kudos to director Andy Baldwin for the hilarious use of overhead projection to draw out the humor in Dauntless’s confusion concerning the epic birds and the bees talk done via pantomime!

Then we had the Jester channel Ben Vereen during the number, “Very Soft Shoes.” In the past I have always seen this number done a bit more sweetly and nostalgic, but Robinson showed us that there is more than one way to interpret a number as he and the ensemble glided and kicked their way across the stage. Nice moves, Jester!

Then came another high point of the evening. When Michael Rausch and Rachel Robertson came out to sing “Yesterday I Loved You” I could see that the director and choreographer worked hard to make this number more than what it usually is. Instead of a simple love song sung expressively, Rausch and Robertson turned it into a passionate, comedic number that was sung powerfully, and elicited as much laughter as it did emotion.

Thank you Runway Theatre for an incredible evening. Shelbie Mac’s performance as Winnifred will stick with me for a very long time, as will the excellent work done with Harry and Larken. Andy Baldwin, you did it. You took a 50-year-old staple of theatre off the shelf and created something original, new, and engaging. Bravo!

~ Sten-Erik Armitage, Associate Theatre Critic for John Garcia’s The Column & Pegasus News

I packed with a Southern California trip in mind. I neglected to add in the 8,000+ feet of elevation that have a slight cooling effect on temperature. It’s a wee bit chilly! The other thing I neglected to consider was the availability of cellular coverage and wireless up on the mountain. I have discovered that there is none at all. I’m taking this as a good thing. I brought some Hebrew to drill as well as some reading for my thesis. I’ll be making the most of the situation. That said, if any of you are needing to contact me, you will be unable to do so. I encourage you to contact Lisa, and she can get word to me via my grandfather’s land line.

The image attached to this posting is what I discovered awaiting me once my phone was able to acquire a data signal. When I drove up the mountain yesterday, I had nothing there to read or respond to – now…Wow. Y’all must really love me! I have a limited amount of time down here as I need to get back up to grandpa, but I will respond to as many messages as possible. Thanks for your understanding!

Concerning Grandpa – I would appreciate your prayers. He is not doing well. He hasn’t eaten in nearly a week and is drinking very little. We are encouraging him to eat, but he is being stubborn at this point. He is spending most of his time sleeping. When he is awake he is alert and lucid, but desires to return to sleep right away.

Concerning finances – A bit of trouble. This trip is costing us two weeks of lost income. I just discovered that due to poor communication, our account has hit the negative. Thanks to the joy of bank fees, an additional $125 of money was lost. Please pray for provision and opportunity during this time! I wasn’t expecting that to happen as we were in decent shape when I left, but I hadn’t communicated our financial state to Lisa and she assumed some funds were available for groceries and other necessities. FYI, I hate money. I hate the love for it that corrupts, and I hate the lack of it that inhibits. Lisa and I have been debt free for nearly four nears now, and that has been marvelous. It’s things like this that make me seriously question my commitment to finishing this program and just find a “real job” as the four jobs I’m juggling right now obviously don’t cut it. But I don’t think it would be God honoring for me to flush the 100 hours of grad school I’ve already completed down the toilet. God didn’t call us here for me to return to Human Resources…

Thanks for your prayers – for my grandpa, for my family, and for my attitude and calling.

God is faithful – even when it appears He’s not! (The problem is with my perception, not His character)

The trip to California to care for and spend time with my grandfather has come together. It’s amazing, really. There were two “sure things” to get me to California by air. But for one reason or another, they fell through! I was discouraged at first. But then I heard from my father. We haven’t had much contact lately, and now we will be spending extended periods of time together in the car as we drive to California! I’m looking forward to the conversation and the time in the car.

I was expecting dad a few hours ago, but I imagine he got tired and grabbed a hotel. I hope to see him soon – then the journey will be under way!

I appreciate your continued prayers as I head out to see my grandfather. I’ll do my best to keep you posted from the road.

One other fun note – If you’ll notice to the right, there is now a Google voice button on the website. If you click on that button and follow the instructions, it will connect you to me. Not sure if I like being that reachable, but we’ll give it a shot.

My grandfather on my father’s side has had a series of recent health problems. From an email I received today, it sounds as though he is in rapid decline. Although my aunt is there at the moment to help care for him, she is unable to do so and desperately needs help.

I will be taking my last final tomorrow. I am making arrangements to fly out to California to help my aunt and to be with grandpa while I still can.

Please pray – specifically for the following:

• That I will be able to fly to CA and back. (Anyone have frequent flier miles they are willing to offer?)
• That I will be able to serve my family and be a blessing during this difficult time.
• That grandpa will have lucid moments so that I can have meaningful conversation with him, show him pictures of his great-grandkids, etc.
• That needs will be met! In order to do this, I will be taking time off from work both at church and on campus. Through God’s grace we have enough money to pay rent for May, but we have a handful of bills as well as a summer tuition payment that needs to be made ASAP. My time away from work will hurt. God is faithful, and I believe my priorities are straight.

Thank you for your prayers, and I’ll keep you all updated!