Umbrellas lined the walkway to the Opera House at Silver Dollar City on the third day of the Southern Gospel Picnic.  Another gloomy day at the park!  I, along with a long line of fans, waited for the 2:45 show with Ivan Parker, and unfortunately, standing in the rain for thirty minutes was a part of the process.  A while later, the line began to move and we walked along the squiggly path until we entered the Opera House; though the pews were dry, a chill ran down my spine from the air conditioned building.  Nevertheless, fans filed in and filled the seats.  Finally, the doors shut and the audience quieted in anticipation of the show.

Straight ahead, the blue lights twinkled amidst the black curtain hung behind an empty stage, and as it silently drifted back and forth from the vents, the announcer spoke, “And now, please put your hands together and welcome, Mr. Ivan Parker!!!”  Up-beat and ready to sing, Ivan walked on stage with a smile, “Hello Silver Dollar City!” – His cheerful white jacket standing in contrast to the gloomy clouds outside.  With his happy mannerisms, came a joyful song, 24 Hours A Day.  When Ivan asked how the crowd was doing, their response was pitiful, and Ivan said so!  So he tried another approach and inquired how many liked to ride the rides and “get sick.”  “One person,” Ivan said of the reaction.  So he had us applaud heaven instead.  “Let’s get good and loud and let everyone at Silver Dollar City know that we’re having a good time at the Opera House,” said Ivan.  Then he sang a ballad called I Am Whatever You Need.  He explained that he sang the following song during the previous set, but as he heard one of the legends say, “If some of these songs are worth singing once, they’re worth singing twice.”  By these words he asked our veterans to stand, “Let’s not let a day go by where we don’t appreciate the men and women who have fought four our freedom…I love this song.”  And that song was God Bless The USA.  Before he could sing a word of the chorus everyone was on their feet.  A song about heaven followed, I’m Going Home.  Ivan told of how people come to his table and share their burdens with him, and then he encouraged us that God holds us in the palms of His hand and quoted Hebrews 13, that says, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”  “You’re not going to find any answers in this world,” Ivan explained, “the answer that we’re all looking for, is in Jesus Christ.”  I Choose was the song that burdened his heart, and as he sang it, the lyrics reminded us of the choice we have every day, to have faith.  Afterwards, Ivan exclaimed, “What a great afternoon this has been!”  As he told about his product, and the “park special” that he had, he was quite perplexed that no one clapped for the great offer.  Folding his arms and tilting his head to the side, he pondered, “Ya’ll are a quiet bunch…”  LOL  Then he asked us to stand and sing his last number with him, When I Get Carried Away.

From the Opera House we skedaddled down to the Red Gold Heritage Hall, where Karen Peck and New River were starting their last show of the day.  Before the trio came on stage, our MC, Mr. Duane Garren led us in congregational singing of When We All Get To Heaven.  After a rousing introduction, Karen, Susan, Jeff and Matt came on stage and kicked off the show with Mighty Big God.  The first couple songs were sung back to back, Jeff was featured on He Set Me Free and Karen sang Hold Me While I Cry.  After that, Karen told the crowd that the previous song is still one of their most frequently requested.  Subsequently, she went on to tell a little story about the last time they were at SDC.  Susan mentioned to Karen that they should go “make some memories” with the kids and ride the roller coasters.  So, after eating Krispy Kremes and drinking a diet coke, they climbed aboard the Powder Keg – zero to 53 mph in 2.8 seconds!!!!  When they came off the coaster Susan headed for the trash can and Karen said she was ready to pass out on a bench.  Of course, that night they had to sing in Echo Hollow and were sicker than dogs!  There it is – their “roller coaster” story!  Before Karen introduced everyone, she also mentioned that Susan recently celebrated a birthday and told a short story about that also.  On the other hand, it was Dawn’s birthday that day, and Karen had us sing to her.  Their next song was an old one that Karen and Susan grew up listening to, called Bright Sun-Shiny Day.  Half way through the song, Karen skipped down the steps on the front of the stage and let different people in the crowd sing a line.  At one point, we even had a bass singer!  When she came back on stage, she asked Jeff to tell us about his Grandma.  Jeff came up front and explained how he never knew either of his Grandpa’s (because they passed away when he was young), but he grew up knowing his Grandmas.  His Grandma Hawes was a great woman of faith, and not only paid for his piano lessons growing up, but she took him to them every week.  And when he was able to drive himself, she still wanted to go with him, so he’d pick her up in his little sports car and they went to lessons.  As he would be in his lesson, she would sit in his car, read her Bible and pray.  Before church on Wednesday night, he would sit at the piano and play through hymns as she sat in the pew with her head resting on her forearms.  “When you’re 10 years old,” Jeff explained, “you don’t know what that is, but when I got older, I knew she was praying for me.”  He went on to say that Proverbs 3:5-6 was her favorite verse, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”  It’s his favorite verse also.  With these tender thoughts in mind, he reminded us, “There’s nobody like Jesus.”  Setting his mic in a stand before his keyboard, he played and sang I’d Rather Have Jesus as a solo.  With an introduction like that, the atmosphere in the building settled down to a reverent hush as Jeff sang.  The quiet repose was what everyone needed in the middle of the busy day at the park.  When the song concluded, Karen asked if Sue Smith was in the crowd, and when the lights came up we saw her standing.  “This is Sue Smith,” Karen announced, “and she is the writer of this song.”  That song was On The Banks Of The Promised Land.  Before singing what everyone thought would be their final song, Karen said to the crowd, “God bless, we love ya’ll!”  – Then went into Four Days Late.  But when Duane came out, instead of asking if we enjoyed KP&NR, he asked if we wanted to hear a little bit of Robe and Crown!  Which we did!  So they sang Robe and Crown, at the end where the high notes are, Karen handed her mic over for Duane to sing them, but he shook his head no.  LOL

Conclusion:  Another gloomy day at the park!  Well, the funny thing is, it rains every year!  (So, I guess the festival wouldn’t be complete without it.  LOL)  Anyway, I really enjoyed the shows we saw that day!  I loved seeing Ivan Parker and Karen Peck and New River again — two ministries with a purpose and making an impact.