THE THORN BRINGS ITS POPULAR ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS EVENT TO

Tampa In April

I rushed out to get in my car, late for an appointment, when something caught my eye.

A baby garter snake was cozily curled up behind the car tire. And I was about to back right over him.

Now I know many folks don’t like snakes, but I, being raised near a swamp, never minded the critters.

Nudging the harmless fellow with my foot, I said, “You can’t stay there, little buddy. It’s not safe. You’re going to be snake paste in about 30 seconds.”

But did he listen? Nah. He indignantly squirmed his annoyance at being disturbed and hugged the tire even closer. I scooted him over a few inches, and he scooted right back. I’m guessing he felt safe and content right where he was; the status quo had been working so why move?

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Right? Wrong. Things were about to change big time, but in his limited reptilian perspective, he couldn’t fathom it. And he fought change

I grabbed a broom and swept him out of his comfort zone, kicking and screaming, so to speak, into the grass where he could live to tell the story to his grand-serpents. As I drove away, it occurred to me that I’m a lot like that little snake. When the Lord brings change into my life, I resist it with all my might. The status quo has been fine — well, maybe not fine, but at least tolerable because I’m used to it — so I cling to my big ole safe tire.

Only the tire’s not safe. I just can’t see it from my limited human perspective.

I resist Papa God’s nudge as I squirm back into my comfort zone. But change is necessary for my growth, my health, my very life.

I must trust that He can see a much larger scope than I can and is working all things for good for this little squiggler who cannot grasp that there simply is no future behind the tire.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” — Romans 8:28 NIV.

How about you, my friend? What life change has uprooted you from behind your tire?

The Thorn, a powerful and popular theatrical event that has been seen live by more than a million people, will bring the passion of Jesus to life with performances by its cast of 40 in Tampa’s Yuengling Center on Wednesday, April 5 at 7 p.m.

The Thorn offers audiences a unique theatrical experience in a show that has been hailed as “Cirque meets ‘The Passion’” thanks to its compelling mix of drama, music, dance, martial arts, aerial acrobatics, emotionally evocative performances and timeless spiritual perspectives. The script is based on the New Testament.

Author John Bolin created the show 25 years ago to convey the meaning of Christ’s sacrificial death to a group of young people who knew little about the story of Jesus’ suffering but were familiar with pain through their own practice of cutting and self-harm

The show has evolved ever since, with the current live version returning to the original format featuring St. John, “the beloved disciple,” recalling his many amazing encounters with Jesus.

“It’s a story full of love, sacrifice, spiritual warfare and redemption,” said John.

John said God called him “to tell stories on the page, stage and screen,” an assignment he has now completed with the film version of The Thorn. His books include novels (The Eden Project) and Christian growth guides (So Loved, The Two Doors of Heaven and Life Unlimited).

Sarah Bolin, John’s wife, helped create the show and manages the show’s national touring troupes.

Through a partnership with Compassion International, a ministry that helps children and their families around the world, previous tours of The Thorn encouraged 15,000 viewers to start sponsoring a child.

While previous incarnations of The Thorn have been performed mostly at churches, the 2023 tour makes the show available to everyone at mainstream performing venues.

“Jesus believes in accessibility,” said John. “He wants everyone to have access to the ultimate story of love and hope. That’s why He came to Earth in the first place.”

The film version of the show debuts nationwide on Monday and Tuesday, March 6-7, just before Easter weekend. Details and tickets are available at www.fathomevents.com/events/TheThorn-(2023).

Tickets for the live event are now on sale at www.ticketmaster.com. Prices do not include facility fee or service charges. Advanced parking passes are available at www.parkwhiz.com.

Resurrection Catholic Church is hosting its inaugural Vets for Vets Outreach Fair on Friday, February 17 to provide local veterans with information on benefits, community activities, medical care and other support made available to them.

The Outreach Fair will take place at the church, located at 6819 Krycul Ave. o f U.S. Highway 301 in Riverview, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The fair will be supported by representatives from James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and SOHI Clinic, MacDill Airforce Base, Paralyzed Veterans of America and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

“The idea is to get the information from the Veterans Administration into the hands of our local veterans, especially veterans who have fallen through the cracks in that area,” said Pastor Daniel Kayajan.

Pastor Kayajan hopes that the men and women who have given up on trying to receive help from the Veterans Administration are provided with the nec-

By Lily Belcher

essary information to get help.

By having active representative from the organizations at the event, Resurrection Catholic Church also wants to make it easier for the veterans to get information, compared to trying to learn about the services online or over the phone.

“There are a lot of veterans in my parish, so I asked a few of them to get together, we chatted and o f we went,” said Pastor Kayajan.

The Vets for Vets Outreach Fair will be supported by a handful of employees and volunteers at Resurrection Catholic Church, as it hopes to host 50-100 people. Co f ee, doughnuts and other snacks will be provided at the event as well.

“I would like to see it happen on a regular basis. We will have to see what the VA tells us at the end of the fair,” said Pastor Kayajan.

Following its first annual Outreach Fair, Resurrection Church will speak to the representatives and veterans that attended to collect feedback on how it can improve next year. Its goal is to spread the word about the event to help make information about veteran services and benefits available to all who have served.

For more information on the Vets for Vets Outreach Fair, call the church at 813-677-2175.