Heart-Healthy Faith

I didn't' realize that it had been four months since I've posted here, but that's about to change. We are emerging from a time in the wilderness and preparing to climb a new mountain with new goals and opportunities to participate in an even greating calling from our Lord Jesus Christ. It's a season of blooming where we're planted -- in short, I'm excited.

During the past year, I've envisioned two significant things: (1) a Fellowship of Christian Artists, and (2) a Christian Arts Center -- in that order. It's not a build it and they will come calling, it's one that encourages others who have a heart to serve the Lord through his or her art to gather together and encourage one another. It's about recognizing the arts calling whether it's as a writer, a storyteller, a papercrafter, a dramatist, a musician, a vocalist. a photographer, a painter  -- whatever God is calling you to do. It's not about recruiting others into one ministry or another; it's about building a dream, looking for the possible rather than being stimied by the perceived impossible.

As we gather once a month over a meal or at someone's home, I feel confident that the Lord will lead us and guide as we lay our resources at His feet. No, I'm not talking about taking up a collection. I'm talking about embracing heart-healthy physical and spiritual lifestyles in which our Lord is at the center. I suppose it's a heart healthy faith.

Our first fellowship meeting will be on Tuesday, January 15th at 6PM at Countrie Eaterie in Dover, Delaware. Please call and let me know if you can make it -- 302-734-0572 or email dcookwrites@cookworkshop.com.

May the Lord bless you and keep you; may He shine His face upon you and give you peace, good health, motivation and energy to follow the path He has for you.

Fame's Flames Debuts Outside the Wall



Diane (on the left), Cathi (on the right) and Dave are dressed in black while the purple shirts are some of the men from the Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing residents who participated in Fame's Flames presentation at Trinity Wesleyan Church in Dover, Delaware on May 20, 2012

About 15 men from Dover (DE) Interfaith Misson for Housing a.k.a. homeless shelter joined us at Trinity Weselyan Church yesterday morning to minister through audio theatre. Five of the 15 held speaking parts in "Fame's Flames" -- a 40-minute audio play involving two women in a prison family support group who held distinctly different opinions about a television crew's plans to chronicle their stories on film. When the film crew entered the prison, the husbands' viewpoints effected significant changes on the outcome.  During the one-hour presentation (opening comments, song, audio play, song, and closing mime) there was absolute silence. That can be a bit disconcerting because you're not sure how to read the audience. Not even a chuckle during the amusing bits! The inmates laughed . . . but the congregation was as quiet as a mouse. As the final notes to Go Light Your World faded, the congregation stood as they applauded. After the pastor addressed the men and presented a donation to the shelter, a woman rushed down the aisle to meet us. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. "My husband robbed banks," she said. "I've been there. I was right there with those two women in the play . . . "

DIMH at Eagles Wings Church of God, Dover

Has it really been more than a month since we joined men from Dover Interfaith Missions for Housing to present an audio play? The audio play is titled Clean Slate and the men performed flawlessly on January 15, 2012 at Eagles Wings Church of God on Denny's Road, Dover, DE

Cathi Kopera joined five of her guys to present the story of men who found themselves homeless but managed to find opportunties to get a fresh start at Clean Slate Homeless Shelter for Men.

Of course, we closed our program with our newly revised Go Light Your World. WWM's CTM Players performers are clothed in black while the Shelter guys are wearing their purple shirts with a DIMH patch on the front.

One of the most telling moments in this mime is our call to be a beacon, the call to evangelism.

And an element that we enjoy most is the fruit -- when our core of four more than double their numbers represented by additional DIMH residents as they return to the front and encourage others to Go Light Your World.

Now the men are eager to raise awareness of the homeless situation to more churches. Please pray that more doors open sooner than later.

www.wordwarriorministries.org