Joining the Smartphone Set

finally gave in earlier this month and purchased a Smartphone. I long resisted, figuring I didn’t need one. But in taking a couple of trips, one a vacation and the other for business, it sure came in handy. Instead of a map I pulled out the phone. I didn’t need a phonebook to figure out what restaurants were located on my route. And checking Facebook and email accounts on my phone proved satisfying, especially considering I gave up a laptop years ago. The danger with any technology is becoming so enamored with it that we miss out on real human interaction. That’s what happened to my wife and me. We spent evenings sitting side-by-side poking away at laptop keyboards, never communicating with each other. We ditched the laptops. Of course there is a similar temptation with a Smartphone and all its available apps. I have friends and acquaintances that can’t make it through a lunch or a church service without repeatedly checking their handheld device. Thankfully I’m somewhat technologically challenged.

The Old Stomping Grounds

My wife, Patty, and I trekked back to Fairfield, Iowa, last week for our first visit in six years. I grew up there, we both graduated from high school there and we began raising our sons there. Still, we have no relatives left in Fairfield, or in all of Iowa, for that matter. And much has changed since we moved away 22 years ago. The oddest thing about the populace of 10,000 is the number of people who still live there, yet are married to different spouses who also lived there — but with another mate. The landscape is a lot different from my childhood, of course, but there are many other changes from the last stay in 2006. Then, the town square had vacant storefronts in about half the buildings. Now, thanks to shops owned by transcendental meditators, business is booming. There are several healthy grocery stores, restaurants and natural supplement shops dotting the downtown area that contain restored 19th century wooden floors, brick walls and tin ceiling architecture. Flowerbeds and brick crosswalks add a nice touch of outdoor beautification. There also is a bike and walking trail around the entire perimeter of Fairfield. In addition to being able to see water birds and other creatures, the paths feature picnic tables, benches and even a gazebo. An impressive arts and convention center has been built that contains a 522-seat theater. TMers such as Donovan and Mike Love have performed there. And where else can you visit a farmer’s market featuring wares from Amish, transcendental meditators from Ethiopia and longtime Iowa farmers?

Amazing Sight and Sound

Recently I had my first exposure to the Sight & Sound Theater in Branson, Mo., where the production Joseph opened in April. The experience included a behind-the-scenes tour from Fraser Armstrong, one of the nearly 200 people who is employed by the theater to make the biblical epic come to life. In addition to serving as a tour guide, Armstrong — like many of the other actors — plays multiple roles in a two-hour production that requires numerous scenes with extras. His biggest part is that of the pharaoh that entrusts Joseph with saving the land from famine. Unlike some passion plays where the actors are merely mouthing prerecorded dialogue, the 17-act Joseph has 48 live microphones that must be cued at the appropriate times. The play also features three dozen live animals, from a white rat to camels. The costumes, choreography, musical number and sets — built on site — are worthy of Broadway. Some of the action takes place not only on the center stage, but also on the stages to the left and right of the audience in the 2,085-seat theater. Armstrong, 25, explained that he enjoys working at the explicitly Christian theater because he didn’t have to compromise his standards to get hired. The company has been around for 35 years, putting on shows in the past about biblical characters such as Noah, Daniel, and Ruth. Jonah is next in line for the twin theater based in Lancaster County, Pa. The 339,000-square-foot Branson complex opened in 2008. The mission statement is explicit: “Our purpose is to present the gospel of Jesus Christ and sow the Word of God into the lives of our customers, guests, and fellow workers by visualizing and dramatizing the Scriptures, through inspirational productions, encouraging others and seeking always to be dedicated and wise stewards of our God-given talents and resources.” The production poignantly brings the story of Joseph (covering Genesis 37-47) to life. A broad range of human emotions and behaviors is on display: parental favoritism, sibling rivalry, pride, jealousy, temptation, miscommunication, abandonment, disappointment in God, compassion for fellow humans, sense of loss, emotional baggage and restoration. With a the sparkling script, quality acting, soaring musical numbers, enchanted pageantry and the story itself, Joseph brings timeless biblical truths to modern audiences in a meaningful way. Few will leave the house without shedding a tear or two.