The Opening of the Hand

I left Hanford,CA Monday morning and took Amtrak to Stockton, CA, rented a van and drove to Lake Tahoe to meet 70 teens for youth camp.

While on the train I began writing a new play called, "The Opening of the Hand". It's a concept and thought that's been on my mind for a month or so. I had been writing a few thoughts as they came to me, but something clicked while on that 2 hour train ride. The writing moved forward very quickly and the first scene is rough drafted and I'm screaming toward scene two. We'll keep you abreast of the script and when it will be available.

The concept is centered around how that we close our hand when we don't want to reach out or we don't want others reaching out to us. I'm taking poetic license in writing some Biblical characters into the play...mixing in real characters from the Bible...so we'll see what happens.

CODE West

I finished CODE West last Saturday. It was the most spiritual CODE we've had so far. The drama was wonderful and drama teams did an awesome job, but God visited us in a very strong way. This year we invited Lisa Davis to teach her sign language classes and perform each night..she did a great job as always. The Signs and Wonders drama team really out did themselves this year.

Friday night we performed Time...when the ticking is done. It was best yet. The audience responded as well as anyone could have hoped for, but God again blessed us beyond measure. You should have been there. If you can attend a CODE sometime, you'll wish you would had come to an earlier one.

A video will be coming out of the CODE West 2008 soon. Watch the website at www.howitiller.com.

Columbia, MS

Just finished a music conference at Woodlawn Church in Columbia, Mississippi with a variety of artists...one imparticular...Mark Condon who has written many songs that churches all over the world are singing, including the Tabernacle Choir, and more.

I taught drama classes Friday and Saturday...did "Someday, Came Today" and segued into the song interpretation called, "What Sin."

More and more churches are venturing into the drama ministry. Pastors everywhere are looking at the opportunity of incorporating anointed drama into the church service. Divine drama can bring a powerful move of the Lord into the atmosphere. I'm not talking about entertainment...it does need to be attention getting, but anointed is the goal. It's not our ability that God blesses but our worship. When your drama teams do a human video or song interpretation, strive to make it worshipful...not just movement.

I've been vacationing in Destin, Fl with my wife, Terri and youngest daughter, Hayli. Terri's dad lives here. So, we've been trying to rest a little. With the website...there really isn't any down time and that's okay.

Next up CODE West in Hanford, CA.

Responses about Time...when the ticking is done

A pastor of the Sacramento church where we performed Time...when the ticking is done called Gaylen Cantrell and said the youth were so touched by the play that it would have such a lasting effect on their lives that it would last a long time. The pastor wasn't able to be at the play because of previous engagement, but has heard nothing but great reports and they are still coming in.

I'm just thankful that God blessed the play and that it could be such a wonderful tool to see many churches touched.

At one church in Ontario, CA., one of the ladies had been praying for her husband for 25 years. He gave his life to the Lord that night. It was life changing for me to see the husband and wife crying on each others shoulders.

The next night a pastor's son (A prodigal from God and wife) came to the play and repented. The next day he called his wife whom he had not talked to for 6 months and asked to restore their relationship.

I could tell you more, but you're getting the idea. If you want to do a play that's fun but moving, please let me know. A DVD of the play will be available on our website soon at http://www.howitiller.com/.

West Coast Student Convention

May 1 - 3 I had the opportunity to be a speaker and judge at the West Coast Student Convention in Portland, Oregon. What a great event for teens that attend Christian and Home Schools. They competed in voice, instrumental, drama, sewing, photography, writing, speech, cake decorating, floral arrangement, wood working, oil painting, drawing, web design and more. Without an event like this they would never have the opportunity to shine.

This event builds confidence, self esteem and public speaking. I understand there other student convention like this around the U.S. If you know of another event like this, please let me know.

Time...when the ticking

What a blast. This script is absolutley the funnest to do. A DVD of our Sacramento performance is now available and should be up on the website soon. A package for Time...when the ticking is done, will include the script, CD and DVD.

You'll need the DVD to see how the whole thing came together. Watch the website for updates.

Today, I'm teaching at the West Coast Student convention in Portland, OR. This afternoon, I'll be judging the photography and drama competition.

I'll let you know how it goes later.

Time...when the ticking is done - tour California

Having the time of our lives with, "Time...when the ticking is done", tour in California. Tonight is our fourth performance. God is awesomely reaching the audience with this play. With the subject of the rapture and time ending, it's seems like it would be an over the top script...very heavy play, but it's not...yet we've had a fantastic altar response by every age. "Time...when the ticking is done", is the funnest play we've done on this annual tour. What a great mix of comedy, mime, poetry, reader's theater, black light effects and scripture. It only has a cast of four, (MorF). I hope to have some pics of the set and maybe a few shots of one of the performances up on the blog and our website soon.

The cast of 4 is Howi Tiller, Terry Vik, Gaylen Cantrell and Kelly Ventura
We've been
Merced
Ontario
Rialto
Arroyo Grande

Up next is
Visialia
Kerman
Turlock
Sacramento
Hanford

Talk to you later or after the ticking is done.