Joyce in Frankfurt

During EuroTour18 Joyce was invited to speak in Frankfurt. She's translated to German by our friend Thorsten M.

Here's a film in which one of Rich's colleagues was translated to German: www.RichDrama.com/YourLanguage.

The photo is of a trip to the Rhine Valley we took after Joyce's message.

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I play a lead in Providence, which I like to call a feature-length music video.

Alive Again Again!!

Today was the 80th anniversary of my grandfather coming back from the dead, so I got to lead this morning's devotions on the set of Janet Porter's sitcom What's a Girl to Do? I told how I shared that story to our cast and crew on September 4, 2021, while we were praying for a three-year-old boy to come back from the dead, and before we knew it, one of our cast mates came running down the hall yelling, "He's alive!" 

So at the end of the devotional, we prayed for some folks who needed healing, and at the end of the video you can see them giving glory to the One who healed them! 

You can see the full service below, or a shortened version (22m) without the full songs by clicking here.

God is on the move!!!

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I released “Pentecost: Beyond the Imagination,” a scene from my one-man play, The Acts, at www.RichDrama.com/Pentecost.

Yuri Gagarin

In our Bible study this morning one of our pastors, Randy Solomon, who worked as an engineer for NASA told this story: Yuri Gagarin, First Human in Space Was a Devout Christian Says His Close Friend.

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Joyce and I performed the rolls of Ferris and Danae Chapman in this outstanding film shot in and near Calgary: www.RichDrama.com/MayflowerII.

The Story that Connected Rich and Joyce

Dr. Linda Warren tells a story that sets up the story of Joyce and myself. The personal epiphany she explains as she unpacks Isaiah 61:1-4 happened not long before she became Joyce's boss at Sports Illustrated in the early 90s. If what you're about to hear hadn't happened, I might never have met Joyce, or if we would have met we most likely wouldn't have had 23 years of wedded bliss and counting.

Pastor Jim Warren opens the service at Westchester Chapel with Psalm 103. Pastor Rachel Taylor prays over the service. 

 

This service is available for download free on iTunes, where you can also subscribe to our podcast. Search for "Westchester Chapel" on the iTunes Store.

If you want to know more about starting a relationship with Jesus Christ visit www.WestchesterChapel.org/Salvation.

Several from Westchester Chapel visited Nazareth Village while performing and teaching in Jordan and Israel in 2011. They have a synagogue set up as it likely was in Jesus' day, and the scroll of Isaiah is unrolled to Chapter 61. 

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I released “Pentecost: Beyond the Imagination,” a scene from my one-man play, The Acts, at www.RichDrama.com/Pentecost.

Joyce's Testimony on Pray with Others Live

I was just delighted to hear my bride's testimony again, and to see how it folded into this week's articles from www.HeadlinePrayer.com, especially in light of answered prayer! 

Join us on Tuesdays. You can sign up to get reminders at www.RichDrama.com/Prayer.

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I play a lead in Providence, which you can bring to your area.

Victory at the Cross!

I do a dramatic reading of Scripture for our Good Friday service at Westchester Chapel. Dr. Linda Warren leads us through the Passion of Jesus Christ through teaching and testimonies of various members of our church family: Melanie S., Rachel Taylor, Pastor Jim Warren, Pastor Randy Solomon, and Jerry C. 

Click the arrow below, or if you're reading this in an email you can click this link, to play the service:

 

If you want to know more about starting a relationship with Jesus Christ visit www.WestchesterChapel.org/Salvation.

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Watch the new film Three Days Later at www.TSC.NYC as a part of their Good Friday (Part 1) and Resurrection Day (Part 2) services. Rich plays one of Peter's accusers.

All religions are not alike

Whenever I hear people say all religions are the same I think of all the religious practices we've come across on our journeys to six continents and about 40 nations, living in NYC where every nation on earth is represented, and just observing the world:

• In Israel we encountered the Druze. Their male leaders wear baggy pants in case they give birth to the messiah.
• In Singapore there was a Hindu worship practice that was so gruesome it's illegal in India: The practitioners carry a metal home for their god over their heads with hooks digging into their flesh.
• We have a friend, Kara M, who partnered in ministry with a Christian couple in India who adopt the children who are conceived when men "worship" their goddess with temple prostitutes. Hear her story by clicking here.
• Some Hindus worship rats.
• Animists worship everything.
• When I was working on my master's thesis, a gentleman in the drug rehabilitation center, where I was teaching sociodrama, told me that his higher power was Mickey Mouse.
• After performing a piece that addressed witch doctors while we were in Africa we were told many there still go to witch doctors even after becoming Christians.

These religions are obviously not all alike!

So when I saw a Ravi Zacharias talk entitled "How do you know that Christianity is the one true worldview?" I passed it by because I have so many reasons to know that it's true and all other religions are counterfeits. I finally took the 9.5 minutes to watch the video, and I was surprised to discover so many things I hadn't heard before.

If you're a Christian, this will really encourage you.

If you're not a Christian, and you're honestly seeking truth I really encourage you to watch with an open mind.

Click the arrow below, or if you're reading this in an email, visit www.Blog.RichDrama.com to watch.



And Dr. Zacharias addresses a similar question here:



My grandmother had a similar glimpse into Heaven as Dr. Zacharias describes. I got to share that story at her funeral.

If you want to know more about becoming a Christian, visit www.RichDrama.com/MyPassion.

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See the rest of Olympic champion Eric Liddell's Chariots of Fire story in Beyond the Chariots. Watch it online and book a live performance.

See Jesus and Take Action

This morning Joyce and I challenged Warwick Church of the Nazarene to see Jesus, what He did for us, and to take action.

At the opening, Joyce mentioned our upcoming trip to Africa to perform and speak at Africa Nazarene University next month. She mentioned that we're expanding our sketch on Harmon Schmelzenbach, the first missionary in the Church of the Nazarene. What she left out is that the expansion is in her section of the piece. She'll be sharing the dramatic testimony of Lula Schmelzenbach.

She also refers to my performance the night before of I Dreamed I Was Free, and how the performance was used to raise awareness of modern slavery.

I read excerpts from the Book of John , and she taught on those passages.

At the close of the service, Selah Cohen of Sensory Bible Experiences, blew the shofar and prayed the Aaronic blessing in Hebrew!

Click the arrow below, or if you're receiving this in an email, you can find this at the top of www.Blog.RichDrama.com.



If you'd like to know more about having a relationship with Jesus Christ, visit www.RichDrama.com/MyPassion.

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I Dreamed I Was Free tells the story of Quaker abolitionist John Woolman, who spoke against slavery a century before our Civil War.

Transformed by the Word at Resurrection Church

Joyce teaches on Exodus 34:29-35 and 2 Corinthians 3:7-11 with the Resurrection Church of the Nazarene in New York City. Opening and prayer by Jim Hullinger. I close the service, and tell the secret of a 21 year-old marriage that gets better and better as the years go by!

Click the arrow below, or if you're reading this in an email you can click this link, to play the service:



This service is available for download free on iTunes, where you can also subscribe to our podcast. Search for "Westchester Chapel" on the iTunes Store.

If you want to more about starting a relationship with Jesus Christ visit www.WestchesterChapel.org/Salvation.

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I Dreamed I Was Free tells the story of Quaker abolitionist John Woolman, who spoke against slavery a century before our Civil War. In his introduction Jim Hullinger mentions knowing me in the days I was writing the second draft.

Run the Race

Tomorrow night may be the last time you'll be able to see Run the Race in a theater. I really thought it was a slam dunk, to add a metaphor from a third sport into the mix! It's about football playing brothers who switch over to track.

It was great writing, cinematography, directing, and a no holds barred presentation and acceptance of the Gospel! This is what we should be praying for more of! It shows a transformed life, the one thing a no one can deny! Though this is a fictional story, my prayer is that it will inspire people to search out real testimonies. If you've never met someone who was transformed by a relationship with Jesus Christ, click Testimonies here or below to read and hear several real ones. Someone told my bride, Joyce, after she gave her life to the Lord that she was the first miracle that person saw.

By the way, in case you're not interested in sports films, this is what  Joyce had to say:

Frankly, I was less keen to see it because I was a little done with sports movies, but this is not really a sports movie.  It is about the relationships -- with God, family, brothers. Well produced, excellent acting and script. The dialog is very real. 

A gym buddy told me to be sure to see it! He loved it, and especially remarked on the work of Francis Fischer, as the godmother of the featured brothers. My friend also appreciated the honesty of the journey. Don't hesitate to invite everyone to this one.

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See how Olympic champion Eric Liddell ran the race after . His story is begun in Chariots of Fire, winner of four Oscars in 1981, story in Beyond the Chariots. Watch it online and book a live performance.

Love in Denmark

Joyce shares about God's love from 1 John 4:7-21 for the Nazarene Church in Greve, Denmark, just outside of Copenhagen.

Joyce was interpreted into Danish through headphones for those who needed it, so she doesn't pause for interpretation, but you can hear the interpreter speaking into the headphone system.

Click the arrow below to play the message, or if you're getting this via email, click here.



Joyce shares how she committed her life to Jesus Christ. If you're interested in knowing more about Jesus, visit www.RichDrama.com/MyPassion.

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I Dreamed I Was Free tells the story of Quaker abolitionist John Woolman, who spoke against slavery a century before our Civil War.

Resurrection = Restoration

I got to open our Resurrection Day service at Westchester Chapel by greeting our congregants in their native languages: French Creole, Malayalam, Ukrainian, Spanish, Slovakian, Polish and English. I also mention two scenes from God's Not Dead 3, in theaters now.

Pastor Jim Warren preaches on Luke 24:1-35, and he opens with his personal testimony of going from an atheist to an agnostic to a pastor! Pastor Linda Warren prays over the sermon and closes the service.

Click the arrow below, or if you're reading this in an email you can click this link, to play the service:



This service is available for download free on iTunes, where you can also subscribe to our podcast. Search for "Westchester Chapel" on the iTunes Store.

If you want to more about starting a relationship with Jesus Christ visit www.WestchesterChapel.org/Salvation.

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There are still openings for the 2018 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

Evaluating w/ Jesus Values: Riches

The morning after I won Best Lead Actor in a Short Film at the International Christian Film Festival in Orlando for my performance in "A Matter of Perspective" our church, Westchester Chapel Church of the Nazarene, celebrated the award!

Dr. Linda Warren teaches on Matthew 19:16-30 and shares her testimony. Rachel Taylor prays over the service and shares announcements, including my award. We watched "A Matter of Perspective" last Sunday, but if you missed it you can see the trailer, and watch for an announcement through our New York City updates for a possible screening in NYC.

Click the arrow below, or if you're reading this in an email you can click this link, to play the service:



This service is available for download free on iTunes, where you can also subscribe to our podcast. Search for "Westchester Chapel" on the iTunes Store.

Rich performed a sketch on today’s passage when he, Joyce and Elizabeth J. were in Romania during the 2012 Olympics...



If you're reading this in an email you can watch the video by clicking here.

If you want to more about starting a relationship with Jesus Christ visit www.WestchesterChapel.org/Salvation.

Good Friday: Abandonment to the Cross

Linda with Joyce and I just
before the turn of the century.

Tonight Dr. Linda Warren taught on Matthew 27 and Psalm 22:1-11, and as an analogy she shared how she came to the Lord. I was sobbing and sobbing, because she's the one who led Joyce to the Lord when they worked together at Sports Illustrated.

The opening is by Pastor Jim Warren. Readings from Matthew 27 by Pastor Linda, Elizabeth J., myself, and John C.



Click the arrow below, or if you're reading this in an email you can click this link, to play the service:

This service is available for download free on iTunes, where you can also subscribe to our podcast. Search for "Westchester Chapel" on the iTunes Store.

If you want to more about starting a relationship with Jesus Christ visit www.WestchesterChapel.org/Salvation.

Baptisms on a Beach in Cuba

If you're reading this in an email you can see the video at www.RichDrama.com/Cuba.

Junior High Friend Leads Northwest Quakers

My best friend from seventh grade through college was Ken Redford. During the awkward years of junior high I introduced him to Jesus and the Evangelical Quakers, my denomination at the time. Last week Ken was the main speaker and clerk for the Northwest Yearly Meeting of Evangelical Quakers.

The theme of the Yearly Meeting was "Holding God's Hand," based on Isaiah 30:18, 41:13: "The Lord longs to be gracious to you... For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you.'"

Here are his talks:

Relax, Would Ya? (Ken's introduction is at 48 minutes, and his mention of my witness is at 54 minutes).

God is Generous...And It's Not So Fair! (Let my friend from college and Twin Rocks Friends Camp, Melissa Bullock, lead you in worship starting at 17:30. Ken's talk begins at 53:40).

Burned Lips and Bended Knees (The opening has no sound, but that comes in at 12:50, and Ken's talk begins at 1:03:00).

His closing sermon is the best I've heard on the Holiness and wrath of God.

I've never been more proud of a friend, a Friend or my younger self! It really spoke to me of the importance of our decisions at every stage of life. Ken's been pastoring a church in Meridian Idaho since graduating from Fuller Theological Seminary (since I chose Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary--because I didn't think I could stand living in a city--we've been watching each other's ministries from afar), so this wasn't a new revelation to me, but the fact that the Yearly Meeting (the Quaker regional division and authority) chose him for such key posts really made me wonder how the world might be different if I'd been too timid to share my faith as a junior high schooler.

We'll be partnering in ministry on August 16, when I perform The Revelation in his church. I'm really looking forward to that!

Jesus Is the Reason We're Here

Joyce gave the opening message at the MasterWorks Festival on John 1:35 - John 2:11, which includes Jesus calling his disciples and the wedding at Cana.



This service is available for download free on iTunes, where you can also subscribe to our podcast. Search for "Westchester Chapel" on the iTunes Store.

Photo courtesy of NicolettiPhoto.com.

Choose to Follow Jesus

On a break from our Romans Series, Joyce preaches on John 1:35-2:11, illuminating three days with Jesus. Bill H. opens with readings from Psalm 101 and Psalm 127 and prayer. Pastoral prayer by Randy Solomon. Closing by Pastor Linda Warren.



This service is available for download free on iTunes, where you can also subscribe to our podcast. Search for "Westchester Chapel" on the iTunes Store.


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Photo courtesy of NicolettiPhoto.com.

New Birth Portrait Series: Ellie Ellsworth

I got to know Ellie Ellsworth on a drive from NYC to Toronto for a Christians in Theatre Arts conference in 1999. Playwright Patti Souder was also on that trip, and the three of us talked about the Lord and using theatre to awaken people's awareness of their need for Him all the way up and all the way back... when we weren't praying. I'm so delighted to stumble across Ellie's testimony:



Now taking applications for the MasterWorks Festival theatre program: www.RichDrama.com/MWFTheatre. Training and performances in IN, PA and NYC, including an Off-Broadway theatre!

St. Patrick gives thanks

Roger Nelson was one of my greatest sources of inspiration for spending the past 18 years performing one-man plays. He shared his one-man play The Confession of St. Patrick at our church this morning. You can see excerpts of the play below, preceded by my introduction. Pastor Jim Warren opened and closed the service. Guitar background by Bill H.

This service is available for download free on iTunes, where you can also subscribe to our podcast. Search for "Westchester Chapel" on the iTunes Store.

Roger's products can be ordered at A1ManPlay.com.