THE TACO TUESDAY TABLE … our stories begin at the table
I borrowed this scripture and a quote from Francis Schaeffer from The Turquoise Table by Kristin Schell: Hebrews 12:13Take every opportunity to open your life and home to others. “I dare you.I dare you in the name of Jesus Christ…Begin by opening your home for community.All you have to do is open your home and begin.” We’ve (my husband and I) always loved what happens at the table. Set a table. Invite some friends to share said table – add to it the placemats,...
Read MoreThe Green Velvet Christmas Dress Bible Study Guide needs your help!
CAST OF CHARACTERS FOR GVCD “Jackson’s care of his family gave me pause to think about my own sacrifice for my family.” “ Laurel reminds me of myself in H.S. and in college. Like Laurel, I was so caught up in theater work, and spent a great deal of time there hiding from intimacy in my relationships.” “I want to be a ‘Barb’ and receive people and give lavishly, sacrificially like she did.” “Emma touches something very deep inside of me. I love her honest dialogue with God.” These are...
Read MoreAPPLYING THEATER (TERMS) TO OUR STORIES – Part 2
I’ve always felt theater is filled with principles that can hold value in other parts of our life. Many of them are like metaphors, analogies, or word pictures that can serve to point the way, give some direction, encourage the things we do in our day-to-day communication. With my history as a theater teacher and experience as an actor and storyteller, I’ve thought about a few of these things and come up with some thoughts concerning our regular living and relationships: SPEAK UP! ...
Read MoreAPPLYING THEATER (TERMS) TO OUR STORIES
APPLYING THEATER (TERMS) TO OUR STORIES Part One I’ve always felt theater is filled with principles that can hold weight in other parts of life and living. Much of it can hold truth and point the way because they are metaphors, analogies or word pictures about us and communication. Having a history in theater as a teacher/producer/director, actor and storyteller, you can bet I’ve thought about these. I actually apply many of them, teach them. They are here for your own ponderings and...
Read MorePERSPECTIVE-TAKING…a Key Life-Skill
Perspective-taking is the process by which an individual views a situation from another’s point-of-view. In other words, perspective-taking is the process of temporarily suspending one’s own point-of-view in an attempt to view a situation as someone else might be viewing it. I call it—”Walk to the other side of the table/car/room/small group and sit down.” If I understand or simply seek to understand your point of view I will benefit, I will grow, I will learn. There is...
Read MoreMy Author Unknown Trails… An Issue of Integrity
Have you ever heard or read a story on the net and thought, “Now, that’s a great story… I am going to share it on my Facebook page (or on my blog or forward it on to others)?” I’ve seen it done so many times. I’m embarrassed to say, I’ve done it, too. However, anytime I see “Author Unknown,” I am now immediately suspicious, especially when it’s a good story. With a little bit of time and research, I’ve been able to locate the actual writers associated with the admired story by Author...
Read MoreMOVING THE BOOKMARK FORWARD
I was in line at a Barnes and Noble Bookstore the other day and there was a rack of beautiful and elaborate gift-quality bookmarks near the cash registers. I marveled at how bookmarks have changed. Remember how bookmarks were once a common item in our lives? Bookmarks are strips of leather, cardboard, or other material used to mark one’s place in a book. As a kid, I remember the local public library gave you a paper bookmark when you checked out your books. I would take the greatest of...
Read MoreTune Into the Beauty
I believe it has to do with the reality that I am purposefully trying to see things differently, and forging judgement. Be they my January 2017 rose-colored glasses, or my purposeful non-particular viewpoint, I am choosing to call out beauty when I see it. I like the word BEAUTIFUL. Pleasing the mind or senses aesthetically. The word has become my catch-all for many things. I use the word a lot. I am certain I overuse this adjective. Scattering it about like it’s a noun. So many things are...
Read MoreMentoring Through Story
People often ask me when I began storytelling. It all started at a small Christian college (Pacific Christian College, now Hope International University) while I was serving as an assistant dean. Whenever I was with students, I reached for a story. I found out that a story was a great way to get inside their story, to teach them, and to lift them up with encouragement. If the teaching material and the story connected to one another, this was a bonus! In fact, it created pictures that helped...
Read MoreTop 5 Storytelling Tips From A Professional Storyteller
“What are the basic skills of a good storyteller, Melea?” came the question from a casual mentoring moment online. ” “Boy, that’s an excellent question and where do I start?” I pondered. Storytellers are good communicators. If you have ever been in the presence of someone who can tell a story, they probably made you feel valuable as the listener in the audience. How I give the story away will relate to how the person or group receives that story. I want the person to be...
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