Yesterday    morning   I   had   the   great   pleasure   and opportunity  to sing at the Good Shepherd UM Church  in Circleville.  This was a  return engagement as I had sung there back in August a year ago!  I loved coming back to this  beautiful   church...because   the   people  are  very friendly, and there's a strong  ministry  to the  community there. I was extended the opportunity to sing a longer set during the service allowing me to mix in, both old and new songs. My personal thanks go to Pastor Greg Swann and assistant  Cindi  Lutz   who  helped   the  morning  go   so smoothly!

Had  a  great   return  visit  to Calvary    United    Methodist Church in Circleville yesterday! I had sung there a year ago last August, and to come back was a real joy. I got to sing a longer set this time, and the folks were just so enthusiastic and kind! A big  thank  you  to  Pastor Greg Swann  and  assistant  Carolyn Cupp for making my morning a smooth one!

Last Sunday, I headed across  highway 23 and sang for all my wonderful friends and  mail  family  at  the  South Bloomfield United Methodist Church. This is truly one of my favorite places to sing, since I know nearly everyone by name! The church  is  growing  though, so I  have  to keep up! LOL I was honored to  sing 3  songs  from  my latest   CD  "The  Blood   Bought  Church",  including  a favorite of some  of the  folks  there, "Up In Chicago", a song about the homeless in America. My thanks to Rev. Floyd Hubbell for his usual warmth and wit, and to Pam Moody who took some amazing pics of me with my own camera no less!! God bless SBUMC!

Tuesday afternoon while in NYC I took  a  stroll  to W. 51st St.  and Broadway  to  the  location  of Times Square Church. This is the church  that  was  founded by the late Rev.  David  Wilkerson, most famous  for   writing  "The   Cross and  The   Switchblade".  I   have followed   this   man   of   God's ministry since the late 1970s.  He was  instrumental  in forming  my early and basic Christian  beliefs. When this church was founded in the late 1980s, friends Tim Wile and Russell Beatty sojourned together with me to  NY for the  grand opening.  Today the church is still growing strong! Multiple services and multiple outreaches to the poor and hurting in the NYC area. I went in  for a  time of prayer in their  prayer room, which is open daily from noon to 2.  For me, it was a touching, and historic moment as well, in my Christian life. God bless Times Square Church and World Challenge ministries!

Tuesday night I arrived for the first of four Broadway shows in New York City.   The first show was "Motown - the Musical" the Berry Gordy Story. Berry Gordy   was the force behind Motown Records in the 60s, 70s and 80s. He brought an amazing array of talented people to the masses, including Diana Ross,    Stevie Wonder,    Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 just to name a few. The story is interspersed   with amazing music tributes to the artists of the time. It's a great show, telling one of America's best musical  rags to riches  to struggles story.

Wednesday afternoon, it was a date with Emmy-award  winning  actress  Cicely Tyson   in  the   drama,   "The Trip  to Bountiful" in a limited engagement. The story   revolves   around   Ms.  Tyson's character who  longs  to  return  to  her home of Bountiful, TX. The cast featured award winning singer Vanessa Williams as the over-bearing daughter-in-law, and "Dukes of Hazard" star,  Tom Wopat in the  role  of   the  kindly  sheriff.  The production was poignant, as anyone who has dealt with eldercare issues can testify to.

Wednesday   night,   it  was  Disney's production of "Newsies". The story was about the newspaper strike around the start of the 20th  century in New York City, by their young newsies (carriers). The music  and  the  energy  of  these young   guys  is  so  heartwarming  to watch. The story is well-written, but it's the singing, dancing  and  tap dancing that steals the show. Don't miss this one when it comes to your town!

My last evening, Thursday, I took in the off-beat  production  of   "Kinky Boots."  The music was written by Cindy Lauper and  was  surprisingly  very, very good. The story is one, of two main characters trying to  discover  who  they  really  are down  deep  inside.  In this case, it's the young   newly  minted   president   of   a family  shoe  business  who's  trying   to save the fortunes of the company, while the other is a  young drag queen,  trying to  discover  his/her hidden  talents  and dreams. A great production actually with lots of camp, comedy and of course some oh so fabulous boots!