Our hometown's community center here in Bridgton, Maine, hosts a weekly free lunch every Wednesday.  Since it is a noontime lunch and I still work as a teacher, I can't be present most of the time.  This is spring vacation week, though, so I was able to go, not to eat but to do some lunchtime entertaining.  The event was well attended with many senior citizens, but there were others present as well.

As I warmed up in my yard the morning before this show, I sensed the Holy Spirit prompting me to be more overt with the Gospel than I usually am at this event.  I always included a routine or two that pointed the audience toward Jesus, but, in this venue,  I've always focused mostly on just fun routines.  I also felt prompted to include some things that I haven't felt was ready to perform yet.  I'm so glad I obeyed on both accounts.

I opened with my "Hallelujah" routine in which I juggle mutliple sized balls on and off of a balance board accompanied by Melanie's version of the Hallelujah Chorus.  I haven't done this a lot lately, and certainly not as an opening routine.  I'm glad I did, as every part of the routine was flawless.  From there I did "Crown Him with Many Crowns", a hat juggling routine to a version of that traditionl hymn.  This included a new twist in which, after a failed foot to head catch, I pause the music, try and fail a few more times -always kicking the hat too low.  Then I sit in a chair and do the kick up.  It was the first time I performed it that way, and it worked.

After a paper tear trick in which I tell the miracle of the fish and bread, I did a couple new routines.  One was a triple prediction with split cards that had not one but two surprise endings.  I followed this up with my hand guillotine, which is fast becoming a standard in my shows.  I then closed with my oldest Gospel routine: the herring bone balance.  Although a mime routine, it is one of my clearest Gospel message routines.

The whole show was well recieved, and several people specifically mentioned the faith based message of the routines.  I came home encouraged on many levels.