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Combine Play and Worship
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Travel Tip – Combine Play and Worship
How would you like a vacation that includes play, museums, God, worship, nature, hiking, state and national parks, mountains, lakes, swimming, music, art, good food, and amusement parks?
How would you like a vacation that gives you very low cost hotel options and many beautiful camping alternatives?
Does it sound too good to be true?
It is possible. I had never heard of this area so I thought perhaps others might not as well. My relatives encouraged me to visit and it was very good advice. In the photo gallery, there are pictures of the places mentioned in this story.
Carthage, Missouri
Start in Carthage at the Precious Moments Chapel.
Spend the night at the Best Western Precious Moments Hotel. The rates are reasonable and the hotel is fun.
Plan to spend an entire day at the Precious Moments Chapel. The Chapel is free but take the time and spend the money to take the entire tour. It is under $10. Sleep in and get there by 10:00. Buy your tickets. Resist shopping until later.
Begin your day at Precious Moments with praise and worship at the Fountain of the Angels. You will sing gospel songs and hear the creation story from Adam and Eve to Jesus’ resurrection. The fountain colors and shapes are incredible. Take your cameras.
I met another woman traveling alone. I asked her if she was there for the spirituality or for the tourist attraction. She said she was not much interested in the spirituality but loved Precious Moments. I heard her crying in the show and know she was touched. What a witness Precious Moments has.
The Christian singers are inspiring. They sing with the love of Jesus on their face. I talked to one of the performers after the show. She said they were all Christians. She said it was impossible to sing those words without believing.
She became a Christian as a child. She was the music leader in her church and the church had problems. She left the church and asked God what to do next. She got the job at Precious Moments. The job interfered with her church attendance so she just stopped going to church.
One day, while driving, God convicted her. He told her to get back in church. She pulled off the road and asked God to send her the right church and to make it possible for her go. She turned a corner and saw a large billboard that said “The Right Church For You.” She asked for Sunday off and got it. She has been involved in the church on that billboard for quite some time now.
After the show, tour then entire area and catch the shuttle bus over to the main Chapel.
Take the tour so that you understand the meaning behind all of the beautiful artwork in the Chapel. The paintings tell the main stories in the Old and New Testaments. How heart warming it is to listen to a tour guide tell stories from the Bible to the tourists. As you look at the art and hear the Bible stories, think about the application of those stories to your life. Pray for the people hearing those stories.
Go the room that holds the Book of Remembrances. . Write a tribute to someone that you have loved and lost in the book. Pray for all the families that have written on those books.
Walk out behind the Chapel and visit Jesus’ tomb. The Precious Moment artist wanted a cave on the property and shopped until he found land with a real cave. He is quite clear that Jesus is not there. Jesus has risen.
Walk through the gardens to the studio and see the wonderful collection of Precious Moments memorabilia. Walk back into the gardens and enjoy the beauty. Pray as you walk through the gardens. Encourage your family to pray.
Stop and have lunch in the cafeteria. Say a blessing first. The buffet is delicious.
Resist the gift shop again. Save it until the end so you do not have to carry bags.
After lunch, catch the shuttle and go to the second show at Fountain Of the Angels.
From there, catch the shuttle to the Wedding Chapel. Take your time and visit everything. Sit down inside the Wedding Chapel and pray. Enjoy the stained glass.
Walk in the gardens. Visit every room in the ballroom and pay careful attention to the beautiful decorations and art. Visit the Bridal Suite.
Walk over to the water and spend a few minutes in prayer. Be sure to notice the flowers and to thank God for them.
Now you can catch the shuttle back the main area and visit the gift shop. God will have to provide the self control.
Branson, Missouri
After visiting the Precious Moments Chapel, take the two hour drive to Branson Missouri. Plan to spend at least three days there.
I heard the amusement park in Silver Dollar City was good but I did not get to go. If you have children, visit the water attractions.
Go to the shows and expect to be blessed. Plan to see 2-3 shows a day. Ask for the family specials and discounts available. They are clean, patriotic, and they give glory to God. The talent is incredible. You will recognize many of the performers.
Country Western is predominant but there are many other types of music as well. They also have plays and magic shows. The shows are Los Vegas quality without the filth.
Two shows not to miss are “The Shepherd Of The Hills” and “The Shoji Tabuchi Show.” If you ask anyone what to see, you will get the same recommendations.
The special effects and variety of music in the Tabuchi Show was very impressive. He is a very talented violin player. His daughter is a singer and dancer. Their music includes classical, some country, patriotic, religious, pop, and much more. The father and daughter perform together with the many other talented musicians. I particularly enjoyed the people flying around and the bubbles that came out of the ceiling.
At Shepherd of the Hills, be sure to join the square dance at intermission. They will teach you how to dance. If you have time, read the book before you go. This play is located at the original homestead in the book. You will get to visit the areas mentioned in this very famous book and walk through the original house. Shepherd of the Hills is the forth-best seller of all times. Note that the Bible is number one.
I also enjoyed the Presley Show but you have to like Country Western. The Presley family has amazing talent and I was impressed with watching 4 generations of performers in one show. I always like watching talented children. I bought their CD’s. They have no affiliation with Elvis.
The Presley Show had a pre-show gospel sing-a-long. A very talented piano player and singer led the singing. We sang such oldies like “Do Lord Oh Do Lord” and “Amazing Grace.” We stood around the piano, clapped, and stomped as we sang.
I talked to the musician afterward. He grew up in a Christian home and accepted Christ as a child. He has been playing piano all of his life. He began working in churches when he was young. When he got older, he started traveling with performing groups. He performed with several stars.
While traveling with them, he noticed most were not happy. Most of them were having marriage difficulties. He had a very young family and loved them. The proverbial “straw that broke the camel’s back” was when he came home and his wife told him that he had missed his daughter’s first steps. He also missed working in a church.
He began praying about it. His father called and told him about Branson. It was a place where he could perform his level of music and not leave home. He auditioned and immediately found work. He moved his family there.
That was 20 years ago. He believes he has made more money than he could on the road. He does one show a day. Many performers do two. He also plays the sing-a-long for the Presley show every night. These performances give him an outlet for selling his 8 CD’s. He sold many the night I was there and I bought two of them. Some lucky relative is going to be blessed at Christmas.
Being home has also enabled him to serve in his church. Branson was his answer to prayer. He loves Branson. He said that everyone was comfortable talking about their faith. It is a good place to raise a family. His daughters are grown and are both Christians. One of them occasionally performs with him. He encouraged them to major in something other than music. Performing is a hard life.
In Branson, you can stay on the strip, camp in state parks, or rent a nice quiet cabin by the big lake. Many people bring their boats. Take the time to swim and to visit Table Rock. Many rooms were under $25 a night so look for the deals. You can save money by staying several nights in one place.
Highway 7
Highway 7 goes through the glorious Ozark Mountains. This is one of the top 10 highways in America. There are many places to visit and hike. There are natural bridges, caves, caverns, canyons, mountains, rivers, and streams. Stop at the Arkansas Welcome Center and they will gladly plan your itinerary.
When you leave Branson, drive 65 South to Highway 7 in Arkansas. You are heading in the direction of Hot Springs National Park. While it is under five hours to Hot Springs, it will take much longer. There are many places to visit and hike. About 45 minutes after you get on Highway 7, have lunch at the Cliff Top Hotel.
There are also places to camp along Highway 7 so you could make that drive a two-day drive and hike more.
Hot Springs National Park
The term National Park is actually a little confusing. The entire city is named a National Park. It is a town filled with buildings over 100 years old. There is a strip called “Bathhouse Row.” The shopping is unique. There is a mountain in the middle of the city. There are several large lakes nearby.
I stayed the Majestic Hotel and Spa. It is 110 years old and is beautiful. The price was lower than my budget per night but I did not ask them to raise the price. Be sure to ask for their specials. The price included a hot breakfast. It is possible to eat at a buffet and not overeat. You will enjoy hiking more if you do not binge at breakfast.
The restaurant was very pleasant and the old bathhouse charming. There are smaller hotels and campgrounds in the area.
There are many things to do and see in Hot Springs. Stop at the Hot Springs Welcome Center and have them help. I enjoyed driving to the top of Hot Springs Mountain. Be sure to visit one of the bathhouses and relax in the spring water. I am told that their lake is the cleanest in America so plan to swim and possible boat. You can also ride “The Mighty Ducks.”
This vacation is possible to do in a rushed week. It would be a wonderful 10-day trip. What impressed me about this part of the country was the presence of the Holy Spirit. I found the people loving and friendly. It is a part of our country that has decided that they love God and their country. They will tell anyone who listens.
Bless them with your time and your money. If you need to rationalize your vacation, tell yourself that you are helping finance the work of the Lord.
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