From the Director (Dec. 06)
06/12/06 17:02 |
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Christmas… what a wonderful time. Christmas spirit…
Christmas cheer… Christmas carols… Gifts… Shopping …
Giving. Wrapping paper, bows, stockings… Yes, it is the
busiest shopping season and the time of year for
retailers to sell lots of stuff, work late hours, and
make money. Money is being spent, debt is being
incurred, and people are working odd jobs to make extra
money to buy extra gifts. It’s the season to be busy –
and for some overextended and stressed. It’s
interesting to hear all the different philosophies
about Christmas – secular and Christian both. “It’s
about giving,” is a phrase heard in all circles. Yes,
most can agree on that – “It’s about giving.”
But, as I reflect and ponder on Christmas and “giving,” I ask myself. What is “giving?” At Christmas, we want to get in the spirit of Christmas and give. Gifts for needy families, toys for underprivileged children, shoe-boxes to send overseas to the less fortunate, packages to send to the military, cards for widows in the nursing homes, and the list goes on and on. I’m not knocking or scorning any of those causes. They are all important and need to be acknowledged and supported. But giving has got to be more than that. I have discovered, for myself and my family, that I can’t do it all at Christmas. There are not enough days in December to cram in all the good intentions and well-laid plans. There are not enough hours in the week to send cards and personal notes to all the people who have touched my life this year. So what are we to do? Obviously, the only solution is to allow the Christmas spirit to spill over into other months in the year. Not just consciously giving gifts and looking for opportunities to bless others. It’s got to be more. Giving is more than that. Giving has got to become the cloak that I put on each morning when I rise from my slumber. Giving has got to be the expression that I wear on my face when I go about my daily routine. It can’t be a goal or something I do – it’s got to be who I am. It is the spirit of Christ – not the spirit of Christmas that lives in me. Christ – Mas – More of Christ. That’s what this time of year should be… Preferring others over myself – that’s another face of giving. Smiling when the cashier at Wal-Mart is frazzled and obviously having a bad day. Recognizing that the world is made up of humans with faults and frailties and stories – not just me and my schedule and agenda. That’s the spirit of Christ…. More of Christ… less of me. More sitting at his feet…. Less trying to get it all done. More of Christ in me…. Less trying to be something on my own.
I don’t want to sound like a scrooge because I honestly love Christmas and the lights and the music and the eggnog and all the Christmas stuff, but, as Christians, Christmas is not just a season. It’s not a day or a week or even a month – it’s a lifestyle. Giving is not something we do at Christmas, it’s who we are as we reflect the Spirit of our Lord and Savior. God was the ultimate giver and gave us the ultimate gift. He continually showers us with gifts. It’s simply who He is. He is not who He is because of the gifts; He gives gifts because of who He is. It’s just a byproduct of His character.
So this Christmas season, don’t just give – become a giver. Don’t just give to ease your conscience. Seek Him and draw close to Him so that His Spirit can pour into you, fill you, and begin to allow His spirit to overflow to others. As His spirit overflows from you – the giving will come naturally.
Fondee Bruce
“The Director”
But, as I reflect and ponder on Christmas and “giving,” I ask myself. What is “giving?” At Christmas, we want to get in the spirit of Christmas and give. Gifts for needy families, toys for underprivileged children, shoe-boxes to send overseas to the less fortunate, packages to send to the military, cards for widows in the nursing homes, and the list goes on and on. I’m not knocking or scorning any of those causes. They are all important and need to be acknowledged and supported. But giving has got to be more than that. I have discovered, for myself and my family, that I can’t do it all at Christmas. There are not enough days in December to cram in all the good intentions and well-laid plans. There are not enough hours in the week to send cards and personal notes to all the people who have touched my life this year. So what are we to do? Obviously, the only solution is to allow the Christmas spirit to spill over into other months in the year. Not just consciously giving gifts and looking for opportunities to bless others. It’s got to be more. Giving is more than that. Giving has got to become the cloak that I put on each morning when I rise from my slumber. Giving has got to be the expression that I wear on my face when I go about my daily routine. It can’t be a goal or something I do – it’s got to be who I am. It is the spirit of Christ – not the spirit of Christmas that lives in me. Christ – Mas – More of Christ. That’s what this time of year should be… Preferring others over myself – that’s another face of giving. Smiling when the cashier at Wal-Mart is frazzled and obviously having a bad day. Recognizing that the world is made up of humans with faults and frailties and stories – not just me and my schedule and agenda. That’s the spirit of Christ…. More of Christ… less of me. More sitting at his feet…. Less trying to get it all done. More of Christ in me…. Less trying to be something on my own.
I don’t want to sound like a scrooge because I honestly love Christmas and the lights and the music and the eggnog and all the Christmas stuff, but, as Christians, Christmas is not just a season. It’s not a day or a week or even a month – it’s a lifestyle. Giving is not something we do at Christmas, it’s who we are as we reflect the Spirit of our Lord and Savior. God was the ultimate giver and gave us the ultimate gift. He continually showers us with gifts. It’s simply who He is. He is not who He is because of the gifts; He gives gifts because of who He is. It’s just a byproduct of His character.
So this Christmas season, don’t just give – become a giver. Don’t just give to ease your conscience. Seek Him and draw close to Him so that His Spirit can pour into you, fill you, and begin to allow His spirit to overflow to others. As His spirit overflows from you – the giving will come naturally.
Fondee Bruce
“The Director”
Editor's Note (Dec. 06)
06/12/06 17:01 |
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As many of you are probably aware of by now, this is
the month of December. December – the month that holds
the beloved holiday of Christmas. Christmas. What do
you think of when you hear the word “Christmas”? Gifts?
Family? Hot chocolate? Lights? Maybe, the birth of
Jesus? Yes, all of these things, and so many more, make
up our fond memories of this special time of year. More
than any other, this holiday brings with it a warm,
joyful spirit that seems to bring out the virtues in
people.
It’s a time of giving. After all, the first Christmas so many years ago was marked by the greatest Gift that has ever been given – Jesus. It was a wondrous gift of love given to us by our Father. Our job, as a ministry team and as children of the King, is to pass on the Gift to those who don’t have it. We certainly wouldn’t want to be selfish with something so generously given to us, would we? There are so many things that need to be given this, and every, season.
It’s not about the material gifts; it’s about the heartfelt giving. It’s so much easier to buy a kid a baseball video game than it is to take time to play the real thing with him. Money has come to provide an easy substitute for love, and it shouldn’t be this way. Try to think of ways to give to others without using any money. There are plenty of ways to show you care – you can give of your time, your words, your gifts.
Let this Christmas be a Christmas of cheerful, unselfish giving. There’s an old song (in fact, I’m not sure how I know it) that sings, “can’t buy me love” and it’s actually quite profound when you begin to think on it. Money can’t buy love, because the price was already paid by the very Creator of love. So stop the frantic rushing around to find the “perfect gift”. Stop, take a deep breath, and take time to enjoy all the gifts He’s already given you. I think you’ll find you don’t really need much more than what you’ve already been blessed with.
Maegan Bruce
Co-Editor
It’s a time of giving. After all, the first Christmas so many years ago was marked by the greatest Gift that has ever been given – Jesus. It was a wondrous gift of love given to us by our Father. Our job, as a ministry team and as children of the King, is to pass on the Gift to those who don’t have it. We certainly wouldn’t want to be selfish with something so generously given to us, would we? There are so many things that need to be given this, and every, season.
It’s not about the material gifts; it’s about the heartfelt giving. It’s so much easier to buy a kid a baseball video game than it is to take time to play the real thing with him. Money has come to provide an easy substitute for love, and it shouldn’t be this way. Try to think of ways to give to others without using any money. There are plenty of ways to show you care – you can give of your time, your words, your gifts.
Let this Christmas be a Christmas of cheerful, unselfish giving. There’s an old song (in fact, I’m not sure how I know it) that sings, “can’t buy me love” and it’s actually quite profound when you begin to think on it. Money can’t buy love, because the price was already paid by the very Creator of love. So stop the frantic rushing around to find the “perfect gift”. Stop, take a deep breath, and take time to enjoy all the gifts He’s already given you. I think you’ll find you don’t really need much more than what you’ve already been blessed with.
Maegan Bruce
Co-Editor
Words From the Wise Words From the Wise (Dec. 06)
06/12/06 16:59 |
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“Give according to your income, lest God make your
income according to your giving.”
-- Author Unknown
“The habit of giving only enhances the desire to give.”
-- Walt Whitman
“You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.”
-- Amy Carmichael
“The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.”
-- Albert Einstein
“Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.”
-- John Wesley
“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
-- Winston Churchill
“Nothing that you have not given away will ever be really yours.”
-- C. S. Lewis
“Everyone is gifted - but some people never open their package”
-- Author Unknown
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
-- Jim Elliot
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
-- Thomas Edison
-- Author Unknown
“The habit of giving only enhances the desire to give.”
-- Walt Whitman
“You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.”
-- Amy Carmichael
“The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.”
-- Albert Einstein
“Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.”
-- John Wesley
“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
-- Winston Churchill
“Nothing that you have not given away will ever be really yours.”
-- C. S. Lewis
“Everyone is gifted - but some people never open their package”
-- Author Unknown
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
-- Jim Elliot
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
-- Thomas Edison
My 16th (approx.) Festival
06/12/06 16:59 |
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I’ve been to many, many puppet festivals. I’ve been
around many, many teams. I’ve seen, many, many puppet
songs. However, one thing I haven’t seen enough of is
the unostentatious spirit displayed in the members of
our ministry team at the OWS Regional Festival.
It’s so easy to lose focus of what our true goal is and that’s ministering. I’ve seen competition distract many teams from this and it’s a sad situation. They get so focused on technique, they lose sight of the very reason they’re doing it. We made it a point to simply do our best and support and encourage the other teams – after all, we’re all working for the same Boss. I noticed that when we were setting up to do our rather crowded black-light song, everybody was calm and polite. There was no pushing, shoving, or “get out of my way’s. I also noticed we were one of the few teams who prayed before each performance. We prayed for peace and that the glory of God would be evident in our performance. There are times when people come and say that our performance touched them and they were moved to tears. This means more to me than any medal or trophy ever could.
I have a feeling God has amazing plans for Peculiar Party and above all else, I pray that we will never lose sight of our purpose. Our purpose is not to be better than other teams or to dazzle the crowds. Our purpose, as vessels of a powerful God, is to be used by Him to pour His love out on His people. When we have self-seeking attitudes in the way, it makes that difficult. But this team is on the right track, and I’m proud to be a part of it.
pastedGraphic By Maegan Bruce
It’s so easy to lose focus of what our true goal is and that’s ministering. I’ve seen competition distract many teams from this and it’s a sad situation. They get so focused on technique, they lose sight of the very reason they’re doing it. We made it a point to simply do our best and support and encourage the other teams – after all, we’re all working for the same Boss. I noticed that when we were setting up to do our rather crowded black-light song, everybody was calm and polite. There was no pushing, shoving, or “get out of my way’s. I also noticed we were one of the few teams who prayed before each performance. We prayed for peace and that the glory of God would be evident in our performance. There are times when people come and say that our performance touched them and they were moved to tears. This means more to me than any medal or trophy ever could.
I have a feeling God has amazing plans for Peculiar Party and above all else, I pray that we will never lose sight of our purpose. Our purpose is not to be better than other teams or to dazzle the crowds. Our purpose, as vessels of a powerful God, is to be used by Him to pour His love out on His people. When we have self-seeking attitudes in the way, it makes that difficult. But this team is on the right track, and I’m proud to be a part of it.
pastedGraphic By Maegan Bruce
My Second Puppet Festival
06/12/06 16:58 |
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In November of 2005 Peculiar Party Ministry Team went
to the One Way Street Regional Festival at Glenview
Baptist Church in Haltom City. The team only had 10
members at the time and competed in the competition.
The Team performed the song “Simplify” which most of
you are probably familiar with, they did great and
received a gold and the People’s Choice award with this
song.
The festival not only has competitions, it also has workshops. These workshops teach puppeteers how to grow in their puppetry skills. They also teach the puppeteers how to make props, puppets and more.
This year on November 10 and 11 the Peculiar Team went once again to the One Way Street Regional Festival. The festival was held at Bethesda Community Church in Haltom City. The Team performed the song “Dive” By Steven Curtis Chapman in the puppet song competition, it is the Team’s newest black-light number. The song is very special to the Team, as well as our church, as it goes along with the prophetic dream that God gave Pastor Joe for our church back in September. We believe that we are “Swimming in it” and this song represents the need to “Dive” down deep into what God has for your life. The Peculiar Party Team performed this song in the competition and received the Gold as well as the Peoples Choice award.
8 members of the Team competed in the Creative Ministry Competition with the song “O Holy Night”. This song is done using dowel rods, and Mrs. Fondee did a beautiful job choreographing the song. O Holy Night is a song about the Holy Night when our Savior was born. The Team received a gold for this song as well as a “Most Original” award.
The festival also had one competition in which only one member of each Team could compete. This competition is the Lip Sync Challenge, participants are placed behind a stage with a puppet, while they play, at random, a song the participants are then graded on their performance. Mrs. Fondee held a similar competition at “RFF” for Peculiar Party members only to see who would enter for our team. The Team members had the option of doing this competition and Mrs. Fondee judged them, then decided on who would compete at the festival. The member chosen competed in the Lip Sync Challenge along with 16 other puppeteers from other teams. The competition was narrowed time and time again until there were only three participants left, Colby Shelton being one of them. When the awards were handed out Colby took away the 1st place in the Challenge.
In the end our Team received a total of three Golds and 2 special awards (People’s Choice and Most Original). The Team showed respect to all of the leaders at the festival and showed what it means to have God as your number-one priority in life. They love to hang out together with good influences in their lives but most of all they love to minister in such a fun way.
By Taylor Huse
The festival not only has competitions, it also has workshops. These workshops teach puppeteers how to grow in their puppetry skills. They also teach the puppeteers how to make props, puppets and more.
This year on November 10 and 11 the Peculiar Team went once again to the One Way Street Regional Festival. The festival was held at Bethesda Community Church in Haltom City. The Team performed the song “Dive” By Steven Curtis Chapman in the puppet song competition, it is the Team’s newest black-light number. The song is very special to the Team, as well as our church, as it goes along with the prophetic dream that God gave Pastor Joe for our church back in September. We believe that we are “Swimming in it” and this song represents the need to “Dive” down deep into what God has for your life. The Peculiar Party Team performed this song in the competition and received the Gold as well as the Peoples Choice award.
8 members of the Team competed in the Creative Ministry Competition with the song “O Holy Night”. This song is done using dowel rods, and Mrs. Fondee did a beautiful job choreographing the song. O Holy Night is a song about the Holy Night when our Savior was born. The Team received a gold for this song as well as a “Most Original” award.
The festival also had one competition in which only one member of each Team could compete. This competition is the Lip Sync Challenge, participants are placed behind a stage with a puppet, while they play, at random, a song the participants are then graded on their performance. Mrs. Fondee held a similar competition at “RFF” for Peculiar Party members only to see who would enter for our team. The Team members had the option of doing this competition and Mrs. Fondee judged them, then decided on who would compete at the festival. The member chosen competed in the Lip Sync Challenge along with 16 other puppeteers from other teams. The competition was narrowed time and time again until there were only three participants left, Colby Shelton being one of them. When the awards were handed out Colby took away the 1st place in the Challenge.
In the end our Team received a total of three Golds and 2 special awards (People’s Choice and Most Original). The Team showed respect to all of the leaders at the festival and showed what it means to have God as your number-one priority in life. They love to hang out together with good influences in their lives but most of all they love to minister in such a fun way.
By Taylor Huse