Kelderrific!

Does anyone ever use this anymore?

If so, you can hear the Fuller choir sing if you want to. This is from our "world premiere" concert last quarter. A composer who works at Fuller wrote a setting of the Mass for our choir to sing, and we performed in a church before Nicholas Walterstorff (a former Calvin prof who now teaches philosophy at Yale, I think - a biiiiig name in Christian philosophy...) spoke. Check it out here:

http://www.brehmcenter.com/sermon/credo-from-jubilate-an-ancient-future-mass/

We sound better than I thought we did! :) Clearly, the skill is all in the 2nd soprano section...

How's everybody doing?

Yes, the Proclaimers have other songs besides 500 Miles (they have eight studio albums!).

listen

You make it sound easy,
You say, "You just hold your hand out," don't you?
"You just hold your hand out," don't you?
That hope never leaves you
'Cos a light shines on that helps you to steer
Makes everything clear

(Well it might)
Well it might in your world
(But it doesn't)
But it doesn't in mine
(I've been stumbling)
I've been stumbling in the dark for years
And the light just made me blind

You say it lights every pathway
Shows me how to live life
For the rest of my days
For the rest of my days

(But I can't)
But I can't put my faith in
(Your words)
Your words and demands
(I believe)
I believe in God alright
It's folk like you I just can't stand
You don't have to try and scare me
To reinforce my faith, sir
'Cos I know that one day
I'll stand before my Maker

(And it I'm found)
And if I'm found wanting
(When my case)
When my case is heard
(It'll be)
It'll be by the Author
Not some interpreter of His words

You make it sound easy,
You say, "You just hold your hand out," don't you?
"You just hold your hand out," don't you?
That hope never leaves you
'Cos a light shines on that helps you to steer
Makes everything clear

(Well it might)
Well it might in your world
(But it doesn't)
But it doesn't in mine
(I've been stumbling)
I've been stumbling in the dark for years
And the light just made me blind
Yeah the light just made me blind

When I have a song in my head that I really like, or has me thinking, I will share it with you guys. Listen, discuss, ignore, whatever...

This is a song I like. I like to listen to it before I go to bed.

listen

My Shepherd will supply my need,
Jehovah is His Name;
In pastures fresh He makes me feed,
Beside the living stream.
He brings my wandering spirit back
When I forsake His ways,
And leads me, for His mercy's sake,
In paths of truth and grace.

When I walk through the shades of death,
Thy presence is my stay;
A word of Thy supporting breath
Drives all my fears away.
Thy hand, in sight of all my foes,
Doth still my table spread;
My cup with blessings overflows,
Thine oil anoints my head.

The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days;
O may Thy house be my abode,
And all my work be praise!
There would I find a settled rest,
While others go and come;
No more a stranger, nor a guest,
But like a child at home.

My decision to put my young children to bed early seems to be one of those childhood things that my children can't let go of. Since it is on the brains of some of you so often, I thought I'd reflect on why I made you go to bed early. Hopefully, this will also help each of my children-in-law come to a better understanding of their spouse.

First of all, if I remember right, this was all me. As I look back on my parenting, I realize that I was a kind of anal about this and would lighten up a bit if I were to have another chance. I'll try to list why you went to bed early.

1. When you were little, Dad had meetings most nights of the week, leaving me to deal with bedtime. I loved it when he would help me get you ready for bed (baths, PJs, teeth, potty), leaving me with only the bed-time stories and prayers. This meant you were ready for bed early. I think we loosened up on this when dad got a grip of his week-night scheduling.
2. When dad was at his meeting and you were in bed, I used the time to prepare for things I led in church--my only quiet time.
3. You lived your daytime hours with gusto, so you were tired!
4. You gave up your naps pretty early. This was fine with me because it gave us more flexibility to do things during the day and meant you had more time to play outside----where all children need to play!
5. I tried to allow you to make your bed a nice private space for you. That's why you often fell asleep on a stack of books or Matchbox cars, or Lego people, etc. I thought it was good for you to have time in that space alone.
6. Even if we let you stay up late, you still got up early. And if one of you heard another, you got up so as not to miss out on anything. This made for long, crabby days.
7. Sometimes there were TV shows I, or Dad and I, wanted to watch alone.
8. The later you stayed up, the more you fought or got wild.
9. I need at least 8 hours sleep plus some down time alone if I'm going to function well.
10. We had the flexibility to do this since I stayed home with you and dad could grab times with you during the day.
11. I believe that the discipline of going to bed on time and getting up on time leads to disciplined children.

I hope this helps you understand and perhaps get over the trauma of an early bedtime. I guess I could have stretched to to 8:00!

Okay. I've been a slacker. Here's goes.

Pete/Ruth: Dad leaves for 3 days of meetings tomorrow. This represents the beginning of his leadership of the expanded region. At this point we still don't know how much expanded, but probably lots. Pray that he begins to understand how to develop a new approach to regional ministry as team. I have a quiet week. Three days alone is a long time for me.

Brian/Christy: Elizah is doing well. Brian and Christy are adjusting to less sleep. Andrew loves his sister.

Aaron/Jillayne: Jillayne has a packed week. Aaron is deciding on a project to sink his teeth into.

Phil/Lies: Phil has lots of subbing opportunities and will begin to be oriented to his long-term sub. job. Lies keeps on going on.

Jeremy/Jana: Are in the thick of their quarter. New kids keep coming to their worship service. Jana has got to kick it in gear and gain the upper hand on the GPA.

Let's pray for health this week---healthy baby and safe delivery, healthy knees, healthy brains, emotional health, freedom from flu, etc.

Love you all!
mom

I'm bored. How about you all come to LA and we'll hang out. I made (giant) butter horns!

It's almost time for Little Ruthie!

Lot of things to thank God for....

I had a great week-end with a couple of Pella friends, as well as with Wayne/Chris at the golf tourney. I'm thankful for all these people. My event last week was great.

Dad lost 6 pounds. (I found them)

Brian/Christy had definite signs that "little Ruthie" will soon enter the world.

Phil/Lies got to enjoy U2.

Phil had a 2nd interview for the teaching position.

Jillayne only has one night meeting this week.

Aaron can look forward to taking a film making course next semester.

Jana/Jeremy get more time off---got a raise---and Jeremy has some short-term work to do this week.

Of course, you can flip all of these into requests.

Ask God to give Phil the job he's interviewing for Thurs., 10:30 EST

Jana/Jeremy get to have a "summer" break.

Ask God to give Phil the answers he needs during his interview Thurs. 10:30 EST.

Thank God for blessing Jillayne with some great professional affirmation and guiding Aaron as he figures out his new job.

Ask God to show the people interviewing Phil Thurs., 10:30 EST all the potential he has to be a great teacher.

Thank God for Andrew's healthy, fun 2 years of life, Christy being in her last month of pregnancy, and Brian's comfortableness in his new job.

Ask God to prepare Phil's mind so he can articulate good answers during his interview Thurs. at 10:30 EST.

I'm speaking and planning at a Coffee Break/Story Hour regional event on Wed. morning and have lots of fun stuff to prepare for. Celebrate with dad the start of a new campus ministry at Loyola, a new church going to start in the suburbs and his continued mentoring of a Chinese pastor.

Ask God to honor the desires of Phil/Lies's heart for him to teach in GR. His interview is Thurs. 10:30 EST.

God, we'd be so thankful if Phil got that job!