I played Beauty's father -- but at dress rehearsal I may have saved the show!

Here's what happened:

The "boom!" part is where we had the problem.

Dr. Black, the director, had flash-powder planned for the dramatic moment -- creating the boom and a cloud of smoke that would cover the quick change when Beast took off his fright mask.

But we were a cheap production. Dr. Black didn't want to waste the flash powder, so for rehearsal every evening he simply clapped his hands and shouted "Boom!"

We had an audience present for the dress rehearsal. And, of course -- although no one bothered to mention it -- we had real flash powder.

Everything went smoothly up to the great moment. It was exciting finally getting an audience response, and the actor playing the Beast was milking his marriage proposal speech for all It was worth.

Beauty seemed mesmerized, and there was a long pause before she cried out "Yes!"

This is where Dr. Black always clapped and yelled "Boom!" But Instead there was a real "boom" and a flash and a big cloud of smoke.

Beauty screamed, threw up her hands, took three steps back, and fell off the stage.

She ad-libbed a feeble, "Thank you, Father," climbed back up the steps, and lived happily ever after.

That story came to mind the other day when a women told me she had "played church" for 35 years and was totally unprepared when she actually met the Lord.

"I felt his presence," she said. "I experienced his grace." And she added "God is real!"

She was awestruck by this truth.

She had thought that God's power was no more than the preacher clapping his hands and saying "Boom!" Then she met the God who can shake the mountains, raise the dead -- and heal the wounded heart.

God Is real. And that's something we all need to know.