The Hidden Gospel

And for my biggest challenge yet on The Hidden Gospel  - finding the Hidden Truths in  Sweeney Todd. You know...the demon barber of Fleet Street?  I debated for a while on whether or not to include this show in this   series, but I must - it's been one of my favorites since Tim Burton's musical horror film starring Johnny Depp (whose blood-splattered, R-Rated movie poster hung on my pale purple bedroom wall) released in theatres when I was in the 9th grade. So, I decided to take a leap of Faith and see what I could find. I love finding God in all the places the church told me not to look. "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there." ~ Psalm 139:7-8, NIV "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" ~ 1 Corinthians 15:55 For those of you not familiar with Stephen Sondheim's  Sweeney Todd , here is a brief synopsis:  A rev...

"Somehow I haven't, with my scheming, screwed things up beyond redeeming and we're finally on our way.  And no, this isn't over. Hell, it's just begun! Hail the resurrection of the South's least favorite son.  It means I made a vow for better; two is better than one.  It means the journey ahead might get shorter, I might reach the end of my rope.  But suddenly, loud as a mortar, there is Hope.   Finally, Hope!"     Hope  / hōp / [verb] :  to desire something with confident expectation of its fulfillment What I would consider my 'favorite musical' is one that I have not actually seen in person, but I Hope to one day. Jason Robert Brown's Parade is based on true events in Marietta, Georgia, set in the high racial tension of the early 20th century. The Story opens on Memorial Day 1913 and follows the 2-year trial of a man named Leo Frank, a Jewish New Yorker who moved to Georgia to work as a pencil factory manager, who was falsely accused of rap...

Hamilton: "You strike me as a woman who has never been Satisfied."  Angelica Schuyler: [taken aback]  "I'm sure I don't know what you mean - you forget yourself."  Hamilton: "You're like me; I'm never Satisfied."  Angelica Schuyler: "Is that right?"  Hamilton: "I've never been Satisfied ."  "If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can Satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world." ~ C.S. Lewis 5:37pm It was one of those restaurants that charged $27 for a caprese side salad. But after all, it was New Year's, and we were celebrating.  "A gin and tonic with that, please. Tanqueray, extra lime."  "I'll try the mojito." My mom isn't typically one to drink. Her liver disease causes alcohol to go straight to her head after just a few sips.  "Are you sure, mama?"  "Yes. It's New Year's, and we are celebrati...

  There is an island where rivers run deep... Where the sea sparkling in the sun earns it the name 'Jewel of the Antilles'... An island where the poorest of peasants labor... And the wealthiest of the grands hommes play... Two different worlds on one island!  ...And on this island, We Tell The Story. I am a 'theatre person'. I have always been a 'theatre person'.  'Theatre is my passion!' (recited oh, so dramatically) became my mantra in the seventh grade - a mantra borrowed from my beloved drama teacher during one of her mid-rehearsal outbursts, "LEARN YOUR LINES, PEOPLE! WE ARE OFF-BOOK! YOU ARE RUINING MY DREAMS! THEATRE IS MY PASSION!"  I worked with her all throughout middle school and high school, with the exception of a one-year hiatus in the tenth grade to more "practically" hone my craft at a new charter school in my town. The teacher hired on to direct was a professional actor in the community.  Because I, also, was a ...

Picture this: Jesus just dropped a bombshell on His disciples.  Bartholemew leans in to confirm he heard correctly. Little James' jaw drops. Andrew throws his hands up in implied innocence. Peter reaches for his dagger - he's always had a bit of a temper. Judas quickly gets out of his way, keeping a sharp eye on him all the time. Leaning forward with a tight clutch on his money purse, he knocks over the salt. John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, feels faint.  Big James steps back with arms outstretched, clearly wanting nothing to do with this news. Phillip turns his hands inward and leans toward Jesus. Matthew, Jude, and Simon huddle together, trying to make sense of what Jesus had just Revealed.  "Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me."  (John 13:21, NIV) If you take an even closer look, as historians, curators, and art critics have for centuries, perhaps you might find all sorts of Hidden 'Easter Eggs', from mathematical sequences to Hidden...

I'd like to Invite you to take a peek into my creative process, Step by Step. The alarm goes off at 5:15am. I drag myself out of bed, tired & eager, and start the coffee. I head upstairs to the office, open the window, and say good morning to my Window Tree. She looks good in green. As the aroma of my Ethiopian Sidamo rises, I head back downstairs and pour my cup - black, with a splash of cold water so it's not too hot - just the way Dad taught me. Then back upstairs to my messy desk, and I'm all ready to write. It starts like this:  I have no idea what I'm going to write.  The words seem to be playfully Hidden, and I start seeking. My seeking starts with stillness, listening, and Paying Attention. Then I say my favorite prayer, called " The Third Step Prayer ." A question follows: "Where are you pointing, Jesus?"  And then, He reaches out His hand and Invites me to Dance.  I flip open Space for God   and land on a page with an image of Van Gogh...