Monthly Archives: March 2010

Theatre Journal, Wayfarer's Journal

Baby, it’ K.O.L.D. Outside

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Kold_poster Yesterday it was announced that Wendy and I will play the lead roles in Union Street Players production of K.O.L.D. Radio, Whitefish Bay in April. K.O.L.D. is the radio station in Whitefish Bay, Minnesota located in the corner of the local tap: Carl & Lena's Place for Beer. I play Lars Knudsen, a local widower with a teen age daughter and a love for Crappie fishing. Lars' radio show, Crappie Talk, has no listeners and so he loses his one and only sponsor, Ole's Bait Shop and Deere Petting Farm. Wendy plays Martha Bjorklund (who beat Lars in a legendary 50 yard dash race in elementary school) whose radio show, Book Beat, has all the listeners and the sponsors. Things do not get any better for Lars with the sudden and mysterious arrival of Brooklyn native Sal Carducci who buys the radio station.

We've got a hectic five weeks of rehearsal until the curtain goes up April 15-18. We're looking forward to being on stage again and the show is hilarious. Put it on your calendar and join us!

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-day 2 Kings 24

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Generations. 

In God's opinion he also was an evil king, no different from his father

. 2 Kings 24:9 (MSG)

It's funny to watch certain behavioral traits pass down through generations. If you grew up in my family and found yourself in the bathroom when everyone else was at the table ready to eat, you were labeled "Uncle Garrett" because some old guy a few generations before had a habit of always being on the pot at meal time. When a person in my wife's family behaves in an authoritatively stubborn way, they are said to have inherited the Vander Hart gene.

Sometimes these behavioral patterns that flow through families are silly and the source of lots of ribbing and laughter. Sometimes they are simply annoying and you roll your eyes when they surface. Other times, however, they can be spiritually unhealthy and destructive. One of the themes that sticks out like a sore thumb in our journey through the Book of Kings is the perpetuation of sin and evil across generations. Time after time I read a verse like the one above from today's chapter. "Chip off the ol' block" is not always a good thing.

Today, I'm reminded that I am responsible for my own behavior and following God may require me to take a clearly different path than the well-worn trail that was blazed by earlier generations in my family. Following in Jesus' footsteps is a journey that leads us to change in ways that force to be more like Him, and less like those on the path behind us.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and collylogic

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 2 Kings 23

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"The king acted immediately…." 2 Kings 23:1a (MSG)

I walked into the Fine Arts Building on the campus of Judson College. As I rounded the corner towards the theatre, I was greeted by an actress I didn't know in full make up. She had a look of terror in her eyes.

"There you are! Hurry up! You're on in a minute!" she said frantically.

It then struck me like the proverbial ton of bricks. I had been cast in a small but significant part, but I completely forgot about it. Pushed down the long hallway toward the backstage entrance by my fellow cast member, my heart raced and my mind spun.

"[expletive deleted]!" I thought to myself. "What are my lines?"

As I passed another actor standing at the stage entrance with his script, I nabbed the dog-eared copy and grantically began leafing through looking for my lines. It was useless. As I stood in the blackness off-stage and heard the actors on the other side of the curtain already well into the first act, I realized that I was out of time. I didn't remember my lines. I had no clue what my blocking was. This was going to be ugly.

"You're on!" the actress frantically whispered, pulling the curtain back and waving me on stage.

I stepped out onto the stage. I felt the stage lights hit my face like a 2×4.

Then I woke up.

I have this "actor's nightmare" every once in a while and I never cease to wake up in a nauseating mixture of relief and terror. I'm as suceptible to procrastination as anyone. It's easy to put things off until they are completely out of mind. Like Josiah's Israel, some of the most crucial acts of obedience and ritual were such a distant memory that it took a dusty, forgotten copy of God's message to bring it back to mind.

But Josiah acted immediately. No more procrastination. No "I'll get to it later." The thought of letting someone else worry about it or waiting until later when there was "more time" had to end. When I fail to obey immediately, it's possible I may never get to it until I find myself standing and stammering idiotically under very bright lights.

I found out last night I was cast as the lead in our community theatre's next production.

I think I'll start working on my lines today.

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 2 Kings 22

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Not listening. When the king heard what was written in the book, God's Revelation, he ripped his robes in dismay. And then he called for Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the royal secretary, and Asaiah the king's personal aide. He ordered them all: "Go and pray to God for me and for this people—for all Judah! Find out what we must do in response to what is written in this book that has just been found!" 2 Kings 22:11-12 (MSG)

I am not, by nature, an angry person. It generally takes a lot to push my buttons and get me riled. However, as a person in authority, I've discovered that there is nothing quite as aggravating to me than when someone blatantly ignores what I've asked or said. To hear what I've asked and simply disregard it feels disrespectful and tears down whatever trust I might have placed in that person. I have found that disobedience stokes the fire of my anger.

Because of this, I kind of get it when God continually expresses his anger and outrage at the kings and people in the ancient days. How refreshing to read about Josiah's response to God's message. He immediately responded by seeking how he needed to change in order to be obedient to what God asked.

For several years I've been making this journey through God's message one chapter at a time. As I read this morning, I felt Holy Spirit calling me to a quiet conversation about my own life. Am I reading just to read? Is this really just about checking off my to-do list of spiritual good works? Or am I honestly responding to God's message by changing my behavoir in a sincere attitude of active obedience?

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and saynine

Theatre Journal, Wayfarer's Journal

K.O.L.D. Radio Auditions

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Set 001 It is, perhaps, ironic that after one of the worst winters in recorded history the spring production of Union Street Players is K.O.L.D Radio. I auditioned on Saturday for the show and Wendy is auditioning on Tuesday night. It is a hilarious little comedy that I would describe as one part Lake Wobegon, a generous dose of My Cousin Vinny with just a dash of WKRP in Cincinatti mixed in. After the winter we've had, I think everyone could use a good laugh. Wendy and I have kept busy with the administration of our community theater, but it's been a while since we were actually on stage in a show. We'll find out later this week if we have parts in the show.

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 2 Kings 21

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Madison Tom & Herman Vander Well c. 1993 LF Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king. He ruled for fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah. In God's judgment he was a bad king—an evil king. He reintroduced all the moral rot and spiritual corruption that had been scoured from the country when God dispossessed the pagan nations in favor of the children of Israel. 2 Kings 21:1-2 (MSG)

Last night my wife and I had a friend, a professor from Central College, over for dinner. It was a wonderful evening. I thought of my grandfather, who graduated from Central in 1929. In 1927, he became a charter member of a fraternal theatrical organization which still operates within the college's theater department. I was not aware of this when I moved here six years ago.I happened upon his signature on the group's charter hanging on a wall. How ironic that eighty years later I would move to the same area and be involved with the theatrical community he helped get started. 

I look back at the generations before me, and I feel fortunate. While no one is perfect, I can look back through my father's family and my mother's family and recognize grandparents and great-grandparents who sought to live right and parent well. There are key individuals who desired to leave a legacy of faith and life which I recognize in my own life and, I pray, will continue to be lived out in my children and the generations to come.

This resonates as I think about Manasseh in today's chapter. His father, Hezekiah, was listed among the "good" kings but his legacy, realized in his son, was unparalleled evil. When confronted by Isaiah with the prophecy that his descendents would be submitted to a terrible captivity, Hezekiah's response was completely self-centered: "Well, I'll be gone by then." The first ten years of Manasseh's reign, he was co-regent with his father Hezekiah. They shared the throne as Hezekiah battled his illness. Hezekiah had every opportunity to teach and mentor his son, but he left little or no imprint of faith and righteousness.

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 2 Kings 20

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The whines of a child. "Go back and tell Hezekiah, prince of my people, 'God's word, Hezekiah! From the God of your ancestor David: I've listened to your prayer and I've observed your tears. I'm going to heal you. In three days you will walk on your own legs into The Temple of God. 2 Kings 20:5 (MSG)

When I was a kid, the representative of a prestigious private school on the east coast came to speak to my class. It was a mesmerizing presentation and, for some reason, I got this silly notion that I should move away from home and attend the very expensive and very distant academy. I still remember approaching my parents that night and pleading my case for why I should move away from home and attend the private boarding school (at their expense). I should give my parents credit for not laughing to my face.

Sometimes I think of prayer as a word picture. I picture all of these immature little children pleading their self-centered desires before their father. At the time, my parents dismissal of the strong desire I felt to attend private school seemed callous and unfeeling. I look back now and realize what a wacky idea it was. It would not have been good for me or for my family.

Sometimes God answers prayer with startling efficiency and potency, as with Hezekiah in today's chapter. Other times, I feel like I plead incessantly with little response. It's good for me to remember that I petition God out of the limited and self-centered perspective of my momentary circumstances and desires. God responds to my prayer out of an all-encompassing wisdom rooted in the omniscient knowledge of who I was, who I am, and who I will ultimately come to be.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and _-amy-_

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 2 Kings 19

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The Angel of the Lord. And it so happened that that very night an angel of God came and massacred 185,000 Assyrians. When the people of Jerusalem got up next morning, there it was—a whole camp of corpses! 2 Kings 19:35 (MSG)

When we left the previous chapter, the city of Jerusalem was beseiged by the dreaded Assyrian army and the envoys of the Assyrian king were trash-talking to King Hezekiah's representatives. I mentioned that the key to breaking a seige was perseverance (in the face of a painful season with little provision), a strong will (to stand against the arrogant taunts the enemy continually spoke to break you psychologically), and a Deliverer. In today's chapter, we read (a' la Paul Harvey), the rest of the story.

King Hezekiah went first to consult with God's prophet, Isaiah who assures the King that God is not going to let the Assyrian King take Jerusalem. If you want to read more specifically regarding God's message through Isaiah concerning Assyria, read Isaiah 10:5-19 and Isaiah 37. King Hezekiah responds by going to the temple, bows down before God, and praying like he'd never prayed before.

The next day the Assyrian camp was littered with 185,000 corpses. The Deliverer, the Angel of the Lord, brought about a miraculous and unforeseen outcome. The event of the Assyrian army's demise was reported by other historians of antiquity. The Greek historian Herodatus wrote of the event and explained that bubonic plague had rapidly spread through the camp. It brings to mind the Angel of the Lord spreading the plagues through Egypt in delivering the Israelites from captivity in Egypt.

I love the story of Jerusalem's dramatic and miraculous deliverance. At the same time, I think about the seasons of life in which I feel beseiged on all sides. It's perplexing why God dramtically delivers in some moments, and remains agonizingly silent in others. I look back, and I understand that seasons of drought and pain have ultimately produced good things in my life like perseverance, reliance, wisdom, faith, endurance, and humility. Experience has taught me that God's purpose is at work in my pain.

Nevertheless, I prefer those moments when God miraculously delivers us from our troubles.

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Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 2 Kings 18

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Then he stepped forward and spoke in Hebrew loud enough for everyone to hear, "Listen carefully to the words of The Great King, the king of Assyria: Don't let Hezekiah fool you; he can't save you. And don't let Hezekiah give you that line about trusting in God, telling you, 'God will save us—this city will never be abandoned to the king of Assyria.' Don't listen to Hezekiah—he doesn't know what he's talking about. 2 Kings 18:28-31a (MSG)

Taking a step back and looking at today's chapter and you find a great example of the ancient art of seige warfare. Seige warefare has been a lucrative enterprise throughout history and the Assyrians would have easily made the all-star team. It's bullying and extortion on a national level. You simply amass a large army, surround a weak city, and then demand a huge sum of money to back down. If the city refuses, you destroy it mercilessly (the Assyrians were known to hack the limbs off their victims and leave piles of disembodied arms and legs outside the city gate as a calling card). If the city was too big or well fortified, you simply waited and let the inhabitants of the city slowly starve to death and implode because you've cut off their supply lines. Of course, you make sure a few survivors make it out and escape to nearby towns so that the news of your terror psychologically begins to intimidate the next city on your list.

Part of successful seige warfare was the application of psychological pressure by continually taunting the surrounded city. It was the ancient form of talking smack that you still see on the football field or basketball court. If you can get inside your opponent's head, you have the edge.

I believe we all have experienced, even to a minimal degree, a feeling of being beseiged. It could be bullying on the playground, being the victim of the neighborhood gang, or being singled out and verbally beat down by a parent, teaching, coach or authority figure. I think that our spiritual enemy uses the same tactics: surround, cut off, harass, intimidate, and get inside the head.

The answer to a seige is perseverance, strong will, and a Deliverer.

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 2 Kings 17

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Moving and not getting anywhere. As it turned out, all the time these people were putting on a front of worshiping God, they were at the same time involved with their local idols. And they're still doing it. Like father, like son. 2 Kings 17:41 (MSG)

We have an elliptical exercise machine in our basement. I don't use it as often as I should, but it does allow me to get my body moving. It's especially useful in the winter months when walking outside isn't very comfortable. While the elliptical machine, and treadmills like it, provide a healthy purpose and good exercise, I personally struggle to get on it. Even with a television to watch or a magazine to read, I hate the feeling of moving but not getting anywhere.

I thought of our elliptical machine this morning as I read about the people of Israel in today's chapter. They were going through the motions of spiritual activity, but they weren't getting anywhere. It was all show. There was no change of heart. There was no spiritual progress that radiated out into a change of behavior. They were spiritually running in place.

In worship yesterday, we were reminded that this season of Lent is meant as a time of self-inspection and examination. Today, I'm looking back at where I've been, I'm examining where I'm at, and I'm peering ahead at where I'm headed. I'm asking myself if my journey with God is propelling me forward in a meaningful and substantial way, or if my spiritual exercise is simply wasted motion on a spiritual treadmill.

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