A SWITCH WAS JUST TURNED ON

      I was never a morning person. Just ask my Mom!! As a teenager I would go to bed very late after watching the Honeymooners at 11:30 p.m. and during the summer months I would wake up after 12 Noon! My Mom will definitely testify to you all that it was very challenging waking me up, especially to go to school. I missed the bus a lot mainly because I couldn't wake up and found myself walking to school especially High School. The one thing that did annoy me in the morning was when my Mom would turn my light on. It meant the day was starting and I had to get my butt in gear, get in the shower, get dressed, eat breakfast and hopefully not miss the bus. But that light switch coming on!! Man, I hated it when my Mom turned the switch on. If I had my way back in High School, I wish I would have had someone implant a smart chip in my brain so I could miss having to sit in class. I was not a great student and struggled, but I am proud to say I am a College graduate by the grace of God!

     No, this blog is no about my early morning bad habits as a teenager, When I started having children I learned very quickly that babies don't care what time it is. When they need a diaper change and need to be fed they are not concerned about the time of day. When they are crying they need Mommy & Daddy to get out of bed and help them. Life does not revolve around your time schedule but theirs. I quickly learned how to be a morning person and not a night owl like I used to be. I have no regrets! Now I am up at 4:15 a.m. opening a restaurant. Go figure! My family is still in shock over that one! This blog is about a conference I attended on September 16, 2 weeks ago called E3. A conference on how to effectively share your faith!

     I have always enjoyed sharing the gospel with people but to be quite honest, I actually have always felt more comfortable sharing with 1800 people in a church or even with 100+ kids than one on one. I was taught Evangelism Explosion which is now called Everyday Evangelism in my twenties and during altar calls at SGT I used a tool called the "Evangecube" which was a visual prop that looks like a Rubik's Cube. It is not only for kids but for adults as well. I also have used another technique for kids called the "Wordless Book" which is a book using the colors Black, Red, White, Green and God which represent sin, Jesus shedding His blood, our sins becoming clean as snow, growing in God and heaven as a free gift. This conference was an all day event at Church on the Sound that many from my church and I enjoyed. What really challenged me was something very simple. Sharing your testimony in 15 seconds. As a New Yorker and like many who live here, we never have time. Everyone is always running around like chickens with our heads off. We are always in a hurry and truthfully, people don't have time. A light came on in my life for two reasons...One...It gave me a burden for people who are lost and two...it gave me tools on how I can share the gospel with people. 

     Not only on Long Island, in New York or in the United States, people are lost. I use a prayer guide every morning to pray for or world ironically called "Operation World." I recently read about an Island called Sumatra. It is known as the least evangelized island in the entire world. It is located near Indonesia. It breaks my heart that there are people living on that island who have never heard the name of Jesus...not even as a curse word. Very sad, but that motivates me to get in gear and get to work for Jesus. It has to start with me!

     If you have a personal relationship to Jesus Christ, I pray for you that a light comes on in your life and you get motivated to share your faith with people. It could be at home, with a neighbor or on your job. We can't sit still and expect others to do it. Matthew 28:19-20 is for every believer!!

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

LIFE STARTS AT 59!!!

     Wow, what a busy month.I actually have some time to write a blog.  Between working at Chick Fil-A full time, church events, an outreach I did in New Jersey on September 11th and life in general it's nice to be able to sit down and do something I love to do...Write!! My blog title is "Life begins at 59." I'm sure you are wondering "What in tarnation is this guy talking about?" Just hang on! The blog is just getting started!

     Have any of you ever heard of Burt Mustin? Anyone? Probably not. Burt Mustin was an actor and he started his career at the age of 67! He appeared in numerous movies, television shows and commercials ALL after he turned 67! You might remember him in the episode of "The Twilight Zone." He played a resident of a nursing home. In that episode members of the home all wanted to be young again and played "Kick the Can." Or how about the episode of "The Brady Bunch" when Bobby's hero was Jessie James. Burt played an author who wrote a book about how Jessie James killed his Father. He came over the Brady house to tell Bobby that Jessie James was a "mean, dirty killer." His career started at 67 years old and he died at the age of 93. His last appearance before his death was on the show "Phyllis" 

     As you can see by the picture above, yes that is me in a costume. It's actually my latest crazy but amazing idea the good Lord gave me back in May. Many of you know my story about how I have been doing ministry to children since 1984 as a student at Northeastern Bible College as a puppeteer. Since then I would travel to churches and do kids programs using puppets, magic, music an the works. I have lost count how many places I have been through the years. There is one thing I have only done twice...BIRTHDAY PARTIES! The first Birthday party was a complete disaster. I had the kids play musical chairs and the "Birthday Boy" was out first and he cried hysterically. I did a puppet show behind my stage but discovered all the parents left me alone with all the kids OUTSIDE so you can imagine how I panicked when some of the kids went missing and wandered off in the backyard! This was before I did ventriloquism! I vowed I would NEVER do Birthday parties and I meant it! The only exception was, of course for my daughter Kaylee when she turned 4. I wrote a puppet skit and we used a Castle set and did a show for her along with her friends. That was the last one I ever did in 1998. I was asked repeatedly by parents through the years but always declined. "Birthday parties are a 'different animal'" I would tell them. I also never had the time to invest in it. So let me share with you what happened in May this past year!

     It actually happened in April! I got a phone call but didn't answer the call because I didn't recognize the number. It was a lady Cindy who I knew from my previous church. She asked me the "Million Dollar question" Do you do Birthday Parties or do you know someone who does" and I told her "I don't but I'll ask around." Cindy then told me she wanted someone to not perform but share the gospel for her granddaughter. It was not only a Birthday Party but a Communion Party. It was at a restaurant in Bellport, NY on Saturday, May 20th. After much thought, much prayer and more prayer (as well as God working on my heart) I called Cindy back and told her I would be happy to do the party.

     I brought to the party my various characters and gospel illusions. I had about 7 kids and the space I had was the size of a hallway in a house. It was on the second floor I don't mean the length I mean :THE WIDTH of a hallway! The restaurant was a very old building and I have to say the program went very well. I did get a great workout walking up and down the stairs. As I was packing up and leaving, I heard God's voice speaking to my heart. "I want you to start doing Birthday Parties!" What? Me God? Instantly God gave me an idea for a character. I love watching reruns of the old TV show "Columbo" and God started giving me ideas all as I was packing up my tiny Honda Civic and to be honest I was getting excited. On my way home I called my Mom and shared with her what transpired that day, how God spoke to me and what I had to look forward to. After doing A LOT of research, A LOT of praying and A LOT of soul searching I decided to give this a shot! After much thought, I decided to call my character "Inspector Chili Beanie." The Birthday Parties will be for kids ages 4 and up and they will be fun, entertaining and will involve the kids who attend. It will be "The Case of the Missing Birthday Cake". The kids will help me look for clues in hopes of discovering where the Birthday Cake is hiding. It will feature Grandpa Lou, Shelton the Shark, Dennis Ball and Drew Sketchley. I also bought some new magic tricks and...I will be playing my guitar because....I WROTE A SONG! YES!!!! 

     So for me, my life is now beginning as a 59 year old man who is a Pastor, ventriloquist, writer, blogger, manager at a Chick Fil-A and now...Inspector Chili Beanie! Just like Burt Mustin began his acting career at 67, I am beginning my Birthday Party career at 59! Please pray for me as I begin this amazing new adventure!!