by Dale Reeves
Story Pastor
A film that I really enjoyed as a child was released in 1963—and yes, I was only five years old when it hit the silver screen. It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World was directed by Stanley Kramer, and it featured an all-star cast of numerous Hollywood icons of their day: Spencer Tracy, Milton Berle, Ethel Merman, Sid Caesar, Buddy Hackett, Mickey Rooney, Phil Silvers, Edie Adams, Jimmy Durante, and Jonathan Winters. The movie began when several motorists witnessed a single-car crash in the California desert, and after the driver’s dying words indicated the location of a secret stash of loot, they all turned against each other in a mad dash across the state to find the buried treasure. The New York Journal American called it, “The wildest chase comedy on record.”
This madcap pursuit of a suitcase of stolen cash, buried somewhere in Santa Rosita State Park under “a big W,” provided all kinds of laughs for me as a child. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. Recently as I was channel surfing, I saw the movie being replayed again, and I watched it for the umpteenth time. I won’t tell you where the treasure of money was found and what happened with it—you need to watch the movie yourself to find out.
It Was a MAD Camp
This past week at Christ’s Church was a week of nonstop, madcap, crazy fun for the more than 300 students (grades 1-6), and all the amazing difference makers who volunteered to lead our students in discovering the unique treasures our Father has planted in their minds and in their hearts. Under the direction of our incredible children’s ministry director, Holly LeMaster, MAD Camp (Music, Art, and Drama) provided kids in our church and our surrounding community opportunities to discover and develop their treasure trove of talents through classes such as bucket drumming, singing, guitar and ukulele instruction, acting, drawing, painting, building LEGO sets, and jumping rope.
Each day, students brought several travel items that will be donated to Cincinnati’s Ronald McDonald House, a home for sick children and their families who must travel here from all over the world for urgent medical care. Students also participated in several service projects throughout the week, helping to stuff comfort Bears to be given to those in hospitals and other places, as well as sewing blankets that will be shared with those in need.
Our theme Scripture for the week was: “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16, ESV).
Because God is our Creator who created everything we see on Earth, our goal for the week was to help the kids celebrate what an awesome Creator he is—and then gain inspiration from his works. I know that every one of our difference makers who taught classes, prepared snacks, worked as nurses, security team, guides, or made registration go smoothly would say how blessed they were to be with some of God’s greatest treasures—his kids!—each morning.
It’s Been a MAD Life
Speaking of treasures, sometime around 900 B.C., wise King Solomon wrote, “The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord” (Proverbs 18:22, NLT).
That treasure and God’s favor was granted to me on June 29, 1985 . . . forty years ago this coming Sunday. I’m confident that Karen Mullins did not know half of the craziness she was saying yes to when she uttered the words, “I do,” as my Uncle Tom Thurman officiated our marriage ceremony at the former church building of Christ’s Church, located at 723 Western Row Rd.
But I knew the treasure God had given me!
If you know me at all, you know that I am an extrovert, a stranger to no one, willing to do about anything to make a fool of myself in hopes of bringing joy and laughter to others—using the talents (or whatever you might want to call them) which God has gifted me. God provided for me the emotional stability and balance I needed in my life through my wife Karen. We are on opposing ends of the Myers Briggs personality profile because God wired each of us so differently. In our case, it is true that opposites do attract. Our love languages are totally different, but I am so grateful that my loving heavenly Father provided for me the exact helpmate I needed.
This past Christmas my sister-in-law Pam gifted Karen and me with some fun T-shirts. The front of my shirt simply says, “The Party,” and Karen’s shirt reads, “Wife of the Party.” Even though I am the one on stage, teaching, preaching, writing, dancing, dressing in costume, or participating in a contest on a cruise, my beautiful wife is always behind the scenes praying, supporting, encouraging—and sometimes providing feedback I need to hear. You will never know the hours, days, and weeks in which Karen has sacrificed time, an important conversation, or a material need because of something that was happening in my ministry—whether it was planned on my schedule, or an emergency that I felt called to respond to.
My wife has always had her priorities straight, loving God first and foremost, followed by loving me, our two daughters, our four precious grandchildren, and her very close-knit family of origin. Having Karen as my partner in marriage and ministry these past forty years has been indispensable to my long-term sustenance through the ups and downs that come with this life. Many days I say, “I get paid to do this?” And, every now and then, that is not the case, as Satan is always lurking to create havoc in the lives of those I love. But two things are always constant in my life—the unconditional love of Jesus, and the anchor my wife provides.
Proverbs 31:10 has certainly been true in my life:
“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies” (NIV).
I thank God for the treasures I got to observe this week at MAD Camp, and am eternally grateful for the treasure God provided to walk alongside me on this journey. Thank you, dear, for jumping in the car, and buckling up for this ride that sometimes is a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World! I love you, Karen!
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Corinthians 4:7, ESV).