Blog by Rich

I always loved the original version of this song, but the lyrics were actually a bit confused, so every time I'd find myself singing it, I'd change my tune. Then, before performing at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, near Annapolis, Maryland, I was delighted to hear them singing...

So glad we made it home in time to see The Empire State Building dressed for Christ's birth.

We had a glorious sunrise as we descended into San Francisco for our transfer, and now a smog enhanced sunset meets us in NYC.

We had a marvelous, restful Christmas vacation, and I landed to voicemail detailing work with Graceworks ( http://GraceworksInc.com ) that starts Wednesday. Also, Joyce get...

My brother, Bob and I went out for a five mile run, missed our turn-around and transformed it into an 8.5 miler! It was good for both of us, but especially him, as he is training for the Mickey Marathon in Orlando in a couple of weeks.

On the way back from our run, five deer crossed the road in fron...

Dear Friends and Family:

Wishing you a blessed Christmas and wondrous New Year.

Here's our year at a glance:

A huge blessing – especially as we go into the economy to come – was the culmination of our 10-year wait for an apartment at the Manhattan Plaza. This federally and locally subsidized housing...

On this day in 1993 I pulled into Manhattan for the very first time. I'm celebrating the 15th year of city living in an orchard.

"I've been studying the Bible all my life and I've known all these facts, and I've known them to be true, but this was a most beautiful presentation of the people as they probably were. It made the mental pictures that I've had come to life in this enactment.
--Carol Ernst,87 years old

Joyce's flight was delayed.

Yesterday I woke up to snow.

Today I'm driving to Medford for Christmas with my family. I'm trying to beat Joyce to the Medford airport. She's flying several times faster than me, but I think I've allowed enough of a head start.

I knew today would be tricky.

I was scheduled to fly from Chicago to Minneapolis to Seattle to Medford, OR, where I was raised. The flight from Minneapolis to Seattle was canceled, and the only available seats to Medford weren't available until Christmas Eve. Another wrinkle was that there were thre...

This morning I performed Views of the Manger during the 10am hour, Central Time in Chicago. During that same hour, Joyce performed her one-woman Christmas play, The Shepherd's Daughter, in the Eastern Time Zone at our church ( http://WestchesterChapel.org ).

Though there were none in my service that...

Jim Cruz is a deputy sheriff for Cook County Court House. He was my host for lunch before my performance tonight ( http://RichDrama.com/Itinerary ).

He goes in early every morning to minister to inmates at Cook County Jail, the largest in the US. Once a week he stays late to disciple those that have...

..now the play can begin: http://RichDrama.com/Itinerary

..where everyone has a snow plow!

Last prayer request of the day: that my luggage catch up to me.

I had a safe flight from Portland, OR, to Philadelphia, PA. Now I'm on board my flight to Chicago, and we seem on target for an on-time departure. They're reporting light snow, but don't seem concerned.

The flight attendant was taking classes at the Charlotte, NC, campus of my seminary, Gordon-Conw...

Besides being one of the most beautiful places on earth, Oregon boasts PDX, voted the best airport in the US.

My flight is still posting an on-time departure...and, on the 4 hour, 38 minute flight, "Beverages available for purchase." Thanks again, Joyce and Lord, for swinging the free upgr...