Mad Props Monday

Mad Props Monday:

To dad's that aren't too macho, to post or openly say how much their children mean to them. This Mad Props Monday is for you.

For teachers like Jorge Lopez. You are not just a good father, but an inspiration to a whole new generation! I pray that you bless many classes to come as a teacher. You are a father figure to many that will never know their fathers, and a morale booster to those that do, but don't get the support they desire from home. I wore red for teachers like you today.

To friends that know how to treat you, because they treat you like you want to be treated. They can empathize with you, when it comes to the knowledge of being mistreated, they (Chubb Rock intro) treat you right. You already know who you are, and... that I love you!

Props to some really great clergymen in our county and adjacent counties. Pastor Jeremy, Pastor Brad, for the opportunities, and the words that I am undeserving of, thank you. I am more than grateful for you! You rock because of the Rock, and no I don't mean Mr. Johnson, although, he's a bad man!

To professionals that are not afraid to show you a glimpse of the person outside the office, inside the office. Thank you Hal Harrison, I truly hope you will be a judge in our county very soon! Well part of me at least, the other part of me says you are an excellent attorney, in fact too good, and I'd like to be able to call on you if the need ever arises again. Thank you sir, for all you do!

To directors that allow their actors and artists to grow, rather than limit them in their productions, I give you props! Andrew Gall, you are a class act sir, your response and understanding are greatly appreciated, and I am forever grateful. So anyone reading this, go see, "A Few Good Men." Scott Keel, Dan Clancy, and Jen Russ just replaced the faces of Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, and Demi Moore on my DVD cover. They are awesome leads, and are supported by some very special people as well. They are as talented as they are good looking, so reserve your seats now. A Few Good Men will run through September 7th.
parkwayplayhouse.com

Last but certainly not least:
Props to my children, I am proud to say that if I haven't taught you anything else, I am glad to know that I have taught you how to love, because I not only see, when you all smile at me, I not only hear it when you laugh at me, I feel it everyday when you are near me.I love all of you!

A Good Pick Me Up

At the 6:13 mark, Michael Moorer thanks God, his Lord and Savior, then says immediately after, "Cheif Knocks I did it man, all o' Detroit, f...'in' right man!" Nothing like a fighters spirit, right?

But Bert Cooper was a warrior as well, and a good humble Christian, struggle with drugs, and other addictions, as many of us do. He fought with heart, and said humbly that he would continue to keep pressing forward with God.

This is remindes me of Proverbs 24:16:
"For a righteous man may fall seven times
And rise again,
But the wicked shall fall by calamity."

Although, these two men fell a combined 4 times in this fight, over the course of 5 rounds, it takes heart to get set on your duff, and set down hard, only to rise again, and rise victorious. Boxing has always inspired me, and on a day like today, this did my heart good. Gods' number for completion (a complete week, etc...), is seven. Moorer looked completely out, and so did Cooper, and they battled until they could battle no moorer... RISE UP!

Transitioning... One Bad Brotha - A Few Good Men

I remember each summer as a teen, I would step through my doorway and feel the warmth of the California sun and think:

It's a great day to be alive, if for no other reason, simply because it's a great day to be in the water.

My routine consisted of in the water (beach or pool didn't matter), for 30 minutes, then lounge in the sun to warm back up for 10-15 minutes, then back to the board, or the swim. Laughing, cutting up with friends, man what a life! Then abruptly, like mom walking in and turning the TV off in the middle of your favorite show because homework wasn't finished/started, comes the coolest breeze of summer. This is Mother Natures way of telling you that Father Time tapped her and said, "Time for the happy dance before we 'Fall!" Fall get it? Ok not in the mood for corn? I'll have to feed you with something else then, I suppose.

Life, like nature's seasons all have periods of transitioning. The same holds true for ones theatrical life. I went from playing a part of a few unruly, "bad" men in Peter Pan as Bill Jukes the notorious pirate, to being a good man, as the constable "Horace" in Drood, to joining "A Few Good Men." Oh, and one great lady. 

The "Playhouse" is my home field, it like Berry Chapel was for my ministry is where I cut my teeth. The transition has been fabulous, and here it is in "A Few Good Pictures:"

Peter Pan - I was in a cast of crazies (A Few Bad Men), and for the record, Bill Jukes is resting, and very much alive!

The Mystery of Edwin Drood - The H man, "Horace" the constable in with (A Few Even Badder Men), because it's not 'bad' meaning 'bad,' but 'bad' meaning 'good,' and the term "worse" just wouldn't fit well here. 

Drood had a few fab (great) ladies, as did Petey Pan with Pan being a lady... 

A Few Good Men - I have the privilege of working with a fine Marine MP, Cpl. Dunn, my son TC in this one. 

What ever the season is, whatever the transition, move forward and embrace each phase. Woody Hood, Andrew Gall, thank you for allowing me to work under the tutelage of true professionalism in a way that allows any actor to have fun! You both build on creativity, rather than limit it! I am grateful. To the cast, actors, interns, managers, and technicians much love to you all, it has been an awesome ride! Ok y'all I've got to get to lines, I've got a lot of work to do yet... See you in Washington DC, I've got a few guys to put away!

Marine Lt. "Smiling" Jack Ross

A Few Good Men

MiStakes...

Mistake

1:  to blunder in the choice of <mistook her way in the dark> 

2 a: to misunderstand the meaning or intention of: misinterpret <don't mistake me, I meant exactly what I said about my shoe>

b: to make a wrong judgment of the character or ability of 

Intrans.

To be wrong <she mistook the statue of Jesus in the park for a (bearded) lady>

Noun.

1: A wrong judgment: misunderstanding

Those are the Merriam-Webster definitions of the transitive, and intransitive verbs "mistake," "To blunder in the choice of..." "To be (very) wrong..." And last but not least the noun form, of the word "mistake," "a wrong judgment." 

Sivart Pooknyw's definition says, "Something one does to keep them from continuing on their way." He looks at the word a bit differently. 

His definition derives from the Latin "mi," and Middle English "stake." Mi (pronounced like the English "me") in the Latino world translates in English to "my." Stakes in the standard English could mean something at risk, or something that is holding another object in a state of being inanimate. Stakes keep things in place. 

Mistakes according to Sivart Pooknyw can do one of two things for a person. 

1: they can allow one to grow (mature, learn), because they teach valuable lessons in ones confinement, or 

2: the confinement grows (becomes GREATER) because the individual does not. 

We may learn from our mistakes and become greater individuals, and ultimately find freedom from those mistakes afterwards because of the lessons that we have learned, or we may continue in them and find ourselves stuck, confined, tethered, staked in the same mess we've always be staked in. 

If you're a pup who enjoys being off the leash, and not being of the leash (confined by the dog tie stake) then Siv's "First" is the direction you should be leaning in. 

My grandfather would use the dog analogy in a little different light and say, "Never let the same dog bite you twice." 

Another dog analogy could read like this:

Every weekend one of us goes to a club and says, "He/she doesn't love me, he/she lied to me, but what goes around comes around! Karma is a b¡+€#!!!" 

For those of you using that form of dawg analogy, please note that THE only thing going round is YOU! YOU are chasing your own tail, when you chase a different tail (lustfully) every other weekend. Also just for clarity's sake, if you're looking for tail in or out of a club every weekend or for "a" weekend you're chasing in lust. I've learned that the hard way a time or two as well, that you don't physically look for love, but rather that the SPIRIT of love finds you. 

Albert Einstein once said something along these lines... Insanity is expecting a different end result while you are stuck in the same beginning actions. If you aren't willing to change your ways, habits, and actions, then don't expect your consequences to change either. 

To close on a Bulldog baseball note, my stake needs to be pulled (and I'm preaching at self), the hitch in my swing needs to be removed, my mechanics are off, and causing me to strike out! Congratulations, if you hear those words, and you're truly making the CORRECT changes... It means you are on your way to freedom. May your MiStakes be SweepStakes to freedom. 

Blessings... SP

The Whodunit of Whodunits

The Mystery of Edwin Drood has a dynamic cast, and crew. From production down to housekeeping, this is a wonderful group of people. This show is not meant for the audience to merely show up and watch, but it is intended for the audience to feel a part of, to have fun, relax, feel at home, and enjoy. Plus the Playhouse has a wonderful choice selection of vino. Yes, you may treat yourself or your date to a glass of fine wine. You may also wine and dine, as you cure your thrust with wine, and fancy your hunger by feasting on fine theatrics.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood is a Tony Award Winning play, with music from Rupert Holmes, a fabulous orchestra directed by the amazing Mrs. Ginger Haselden, choreographed by Mrs. Tina Foor, and the production directed by none other than Mr. Woody Hood.

The show has mild adult humor, and is led by the wit, and charm of your Chairman/Mayor "Thomas Sapsea" (Andrew Gall), with a host of lead cast, that intrigue and invite you to think deeply, move in endless fun, and partake in vast possible endings. You the audience actually have a say in how you have spent your money at this production! A fantastic suspense filled musical comedy, that will have you ready to dance and cheer with the cast in the aisles. You don't want to miss this edge of your seat, to out of your seat experience. Reserve your tickets now!

Here are a couple of options for purchasing:
You may take the risk in getting a last minute seat by driving here:https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Parkway+Playhouse,+Green+Mountain+Drive,+Burnsville,+NC&hl=en&sll=35.170517,-79.860994&sspn=4.705019,10.777588&oq=parkway+playhou&t=h&hq=Parkway+Playhouse,&hnear=Green+Mountain+Dr,+Burnsville,+Yancey,+North+Carolina+28714&z=16

Or you may reserve seats online by following one of the links below:
http://www.parkwayplayhouse.com/
https://www.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?t=tix&e=93879b44835df6e703921b361228a298

The Final Love Story

The imperfect Christian has a story that may be a bit graphic for younger audiences, so be forewarned as a parent.

The imperfect Christian was reminiscing over a dear friend, one that knew no limits in love. This friend was the most compassionate, humanitarian anyone could ever meet.  The friend became a best friend, a major influential figure, and a mentor. The imperfect one remembers his friend announcing in a formal letter (a final love story) that it was time for their departure. It was one of the saddest times a person could ever endure. The imperfect Christian was losing the perfect friend.

Imagine your best friend saying that they were going to move several hours away. Imagine going to an empty house, and not finding your best friend there, or the love of a lifetime there. Imagine you've lost your job. Imagine finding a suicide note with the follow bits of information:

The doctor has informed me that I have cancer. My spouse left me, and has taken our children 900 miles away. I have endured being abusing daily, both verbally and physically. My spouse has cheated on me, and I have experienced the pain of what it is like to cheat on a spouse. I love life, but I am so depressed that the thought of suicide rushes in like the flood waters from a heavy rain, on soft, rich, mountainous soil. On top of all of this, my friend, that is closer than any brother, told the people that hated me most, just where to find me, then the government has falsely accused me. They have tried me unjustly and now they are imprisoning me. I was in the theatre where couples were slain, I was in the school when children killed children, but none of them would come to me for cover. They wouldn't allow me to help. Now they won't treat me, and the only medicinal aid they will grant me, is a vile, bitter liquid. They are prepared to beat me, and have exposed me to the other belligerent souls here, and they have taken their hate out on me. I have endured: adultery, bullying, gender discrimination, genocide, murder, racism, rape, treason, and on and on... I had lost my job, battled depression, had my best friend set me up, and now I am walking a deeper green mile than Stephen King ever dreamed of. I am on death row, and I have every ailment, and form of disease known to mankind. Everything from aids to a toothache, and now the public despises me as well. As I sit here alone I can only pray that all of this is just a bad dream, and that there is some way out. When I wake up, this will all be over, and thing will be as they were, and everything will be ok, and I will know this not to be true. If there is anyway, I pray this not to be necessary!

The imperfect Christian first met this dear friend, as a child, at his grandmother's house. This friend has seen the imperfect Christian through lifes' struggles, time and time again. This friend never once turned their back on the imperfect one. The imperfect one was bitter at this friend, and this friend on a few occasions, and unlike any other friend, this friend stayed with the imperfect one even when he was less than perfect. From self murder, to murdering others, God knows your struggle. Ever wonder why God allowed His only begotten Son to die such a brutal death? Some say that Jesus, in a round about way, committed suicide because He didn't call on the legion of angels to destroy His captors.
Instead Jesus called His betrayer (Judas Iscariot) "friend!"
Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Matt 26:50 (NKJV)

Then Jesus said to Peter:
"Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? Matt 26:52&53 (NKJV)

The imperfect Christian is not suggesting anyone commit suicide, but I am thinking that in this instance, THE Son of God was thinking of the son of perdition. Blasphemy against the Holy One, and denying yourself daily grace, (not believing in the SON), are the only unpardonable sins.

This is my final love story, because there is no other love, no other love like this.

Peace, Blessings, and Joy... that real PB&J 

Father Knows Best, Mother Knows Better

"Burt yelling at him doesn't work!" ~  Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy

There is a difference between good leadership, and great leadership. 

"Get to know your players Burt..." ~

Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy 

Get to know your players! Those are serious words of wisdom. 

Being an obnoxious tyrant doesn't make you a good leader. Some folks you have to light a fire under, but there are different ways to spark a flame, and build a fire. Any leader that demands peak performance from their team must first demand (from themselves) the dedication it takes in getting to know their team and lead them as a true leader leads, in LOVE. Not all mama's pamper their babies, or spoil them into oblivion. Leigh Anne Tuohy didn't pick up after Michael Oher. Leigh Anne Tuohy didn't scream at Michael Oher in order to get results. She instilled in him a self discipline, out of tough love. If your mother was a great leader call on her skills, lead as she led, love your team, and lead them in love.  You just might find another Michael Oher, and become a true leader and not a yelling Burt...

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. 

Hebrews 13:17