Sight and Sound Theaters, Lancaster PA

June 7, Wednesday, was show day at the Sight and Sound Theatres in Lancaster PA. We had morning tickets for the Living Waters Theater to see the Psalms of David show, and late afternoon tickets for the Millenium Theater to see the Ruth show. The Ruth show featured live animals and was a musical about Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz. It was a very good production with lavish sets, costumes and props, which as I mentioned included animals of all kinds, big and small. They even had horses with riders running up and down the ailes right through where the people were seated. It was specatacular. But without focusing on that aspect the musical, the musical's content and the ideas presented about trusting God in our circumstances was very well done. In between the shows, we went to Fuddruckers to eat lunch.

We were asked not to take photos of either show, but apparantly someone sneaked this one in.

This is a photo of the Lion and the Lamb statue in front of the Millenium Theater.

This is a photo of a manger scene inside the Millenium Theater.

Reading in Haggai, this morning.

This morning, while reading in Haggai, it occurred to me that we are often like the Israelites in how we conduct our lives from time to time.

In Haggai chapter 1, the Lord is getting on to the people for tending to their own lives and not tending to God's business, or the business He had charged them with.

Uh oh!

The thing is, there were consequences for their choices and actions. Let's read and discover what was happening to them.

Haggai 1 (Amplified Bible)

vs 4 Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house [of the Lord] lies in ruins?

vs 5 Now therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways and set your mind on what has come to you.

vs 6 You have sown much, but you have reaped little; you eat, but you do not have enough; you drink, but you do not have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages has earned them to put them in a bag with holes in it.

vs 7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways (your previous and present conduct) and how you have fared.

vs 8 Go up to the hill country and bring lumber and rebuild [My] house, and I will take pleasure in it and I will be glorified, says the Lord [by accepting it as done for My glory and by displaying My glory in it].

vs 9 You looked for much [harvest], and behold, it came to little; and even when you brought that home, I blew it away. Why? says the Lord of hosts. Because of My house, which lies waste while you yourselves run each man to his own house [eager to build and adorn it].

vs 10 Therefore the heavens above you [for your sake] withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its produce.

vs 11 And I have called for a drought upon the land and the hill country, upon the grain, the fresh wine, the oil, upon what the ground brings forth, upon men and cattle, and upon all the [wearisome] toil of [men's] hands."

Our text says they were sowing much, reaping little. Bringing home the harvest, only to watch it blow away. Earning wages, putting them into bags with holes in them. I see that as they were making the money, but God wasn't blessing that money for maximum provision in their lives. Their earnings were not staying with them long enough to bless them. Today, I would illustrate that as follows. I bring home my paycheck, I have more than the normal amount of car repairs, house repairs, I don't find things on sale at the store as often, my clothes wear out too fast and need replacing, you get the idea. I am getting nickel and dimed to the point where any extra money I might have had is consumed, plus some, on stuff that just seems to keep coming up or happening to me.

Well, this was happening to them because they were not tending to the commandment of God in their life. I am reminded of the scripture in Matthew chapter 6 verse 33, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you". (KJV) God blesses His people who put Him first.

Verse 12 (AMP) of our text says "...the people... ....listened to and obeyed the voice of the Lord their God... ....completely... ....and the people [reverently] feared and [worshipfully] turned to the Lord".

The second part of Joshua chapter 24 verse 23 reads, "...incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel". (KJV)

We need to live lives that are lived for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We need to make sure we are building the "Lord's house" in our lives and not our own. We need to make sure we are doing things that glorify our Lord, done for His glory. Christ's righteousness has already been imputed to those who believe in Him and His death on the cross, the power of His shed blood, and resurrection. We need to seek Him and be about the Master's business. Prosper spiritually in relationship with God and in glorifying Him and what He has given you will work harder for you.

More Pictures from Lancaster PA Area June 6 2006

I had heard of this town, but now I can say I have been here.



My wife's Pretzel that she made at the Intercourse Pretzel Factory.

The pretzel I made.

It's official!

A wonderful place to eat! Beats anything around here.

Who are the Amish People?

Ever wondered stuff like:

• Who are the Amish? Are they the same as the Pennsylvania Dutch?
• Why do they dress that way?
• What is the history of the Amish?
• The Amish seem stuck in history. Why don't they accept modern ideas and innovations?
• Do they speak English?
• What's an Amish wedding like?
• Do Amish children go to school?

Well, if you have then, this amish web page will certainly be informative.

Pictures from Lancaster Pennsylvania area

Pictures taken June 5 while visiting Lancaster PA.

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Lots of buggies out here in Amish Country.

Typical Amish farm. No electric. All horse powered.

Strasburg Railroad

John the Baptist's Witness

Reading in the Amplified Bible from John chapter 1:

v7 This man came to witness, that he might testify of the Light, that all men might believe in it [adhere to it, trust it, and rely upon it] through him.

v29 The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, Look! There is the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world!

v32 John gave further evidence, saying, I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and it dwelt on Him [never to depart].

v34 And I have seen [that happen--I actually did see it] and my testimony is that this is the Son of God!

v35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples,

v36 And he looked at Jesus as He walked along, and said, Look! There is the Lamb of God!

v37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Him.

Hell, Michigan has it's big day on 6-6-06.

The town of Hell, Michigan is getting it's spot in the limelight today. They have special t-shirts and activities going on.

You can read more here on CNN.

RoadsideAmerica.com has a writeup to.

Personally, I question: "Wouldn't the real 6-6-6 have occured 2000 years ago?"

But then, they wouldn't have known about the mark of the Beast since John wouldn't have received the revelation yet... But then they weren't even recording time on the calender like we are now, didn't our calendar system came later?

Driving through Pennsylvania on Sunday June 4 2006

Okay, I will admit it, I like driving through the tunnels in Pennsylvania! There are several of them and most of them aren't very short.

This is a picture inside the Kittatinny Mountain tunnel, just before the Blue Mountain Tunnel.

My wife was getting on to me for not stopping at the different Starbucks we passed on the way. But then we discovered the Service Plaza's on the turnpike have Starbucks in them. Whew hoo!!

It is hard to see, but the Starbucks logo is on the left front door of the Turnpike Service Building. If you click on the picture you would probably be able to see it in the larger fullsize image.

Busch Stadium

Picture taken from the exit lane on I-55 to I-70 eastbound, on June 3, 2006, 8:54am.

Zoomed in on the middle of the above picture.