Chilly Bowl-Celebrating Celebration

 Last night the Choir and Orchestra of Houston's First Baptist Church celebrated Celebration along with the cast and crew of the production.  So, welcome to Chilly Bowl.  After an awesome rehearsal, we all gathered to celebrate not what we did, but the Lord Jesus Christ.  We gathered to honor Him and lay all accolades and praise at His feet.  Now of course you have to have a little fun along the way and there was a little humor added to the festivities. 

Our wonderful Director John Bolin.  I love this guy.  Our time with him is always a worshipful time through song and he can preach and teach with the best of them.  Many a night I leave choir refreshed and encouraged by the Word he shared.  I know many others feel this sentiment too.   

Peggy, Debbie and I got to participate in the less than spiritual part of Chilly Bowl.  In 2009 the camel in the production had a little fall not unlike the 2010 version that happened in West Palm Beach, but there just happened to be a camera catching that camels debacle.  The camel was not invited to come to Bethlehem and see this year.  So, we did a little take off of that and John interviewed the camel aka Peggy.  Camels these days are getting a bad rap.  They have been the show stopper of Christmas Pageants since the early 70's.  I mean now, when you go to some Christmas programs you leave thinking, oh, they didn't have a camel.  Too bad.  Since First has started bringing an elephant to Nativity, the camel's role is being diminished and soon will face what many in this economy has faced, job loss.  Really, when you think about it, camels have performed their regal walk to Bethlehem without their own music.  Camels are not mentioned in any songs, not even We Three Kings.  Donkeys, cows, sheep are mentioned, the night wind gets a shout out in Do You See What I See and the Little Drummer Boy has his own song and he wasn't even there!  Besides you know how people are about drums.  If you must play it should be before 8:00 pm.  Why?  Because all God-fearing, senior citizens are getting ready for bed in order to be awake to start the day at 3:00 am.  So, I am sure the guests at the Inn wouldn't have appreciated the rat tat tat of a drum in the middle of the night to accompany the sounds of a crying baby and cattle that is lowing.  Oh, maybe Jesus wasn't crying because Away in the Manger tells us no sound did He make.  You can't tell from the pictures but Debbie was the pooper scooper person who walks behind the camel.  Peggy had some Milk Duds in her hand which was the tail part of her costume and at the right time, she dropped them.  It was fun surprising John with that.

Here is Peggy, I mean the camel telling John about the misunderstandings of the multiple mishaps and the no camel songs for Christmas.  Maybe John will write a camel song for Celebration next year and dedicate it to Peggy, Debbie and me.

Peggy up close and personal.

Here we are two happy friends that make each other laugh. 

The evening ended with the video of Isaiah's song and Jesus Saves.  When we met with John last week and he showed us the video on his computer screen, tears couldn't be stopped from falling down my face.  It is a powerful visual!  Celebration tells the story of Jesus and His invitation to have life more abundantly.  I saw on Facebook this morning that a young girl accepted Jesus after seeing the video last night at Chilly Bowl.  It all came together for her and her need for a Savior.  How exciting and wonderful is that story?  Like Stephen Smith prayed, Jesus Saves and All is Well.