Friday, December 9, 2011
What a ride!
Disclaimer: You may not find this interesting.
I had quite the ride into work yesterday. When I got up at 5:45, I could hear the wind driving the rain against the house, and I thought to myself, "I guess the snow missed us. Well, good. It'll make the drive to work easier." As my former secretary used to say to me, "Silly boy."
By the time I realized that the rain had changed to snow, it was too late to leave early to deal with the bad roads, and I found myself in a world of difficulty when I left the driveway at 7:00 a.m. For one thing, the left front strut on my car needs to be replaced, as do the front tires that have worn down due to the wobble from the bad strut. For another thing, I have a full set of snow tires, but they're in the back seat of my car, doing me little good in the slush and snow.
From the first movement out of the driveway and onto the road, I could barely get any traction. I was surprised that the road had not been plowed; normally our road is cleared immediately. The roads got worse, and by the time I reached outer Ohio Street, I found a hill that I could not get over. I spent nearly 20 minutes making it over the crest of that hill after a series of stopping, sliding backwards and sideways, and lots of plain old waiting. Still, I made it over.
A quarter of a mile later, as I descended another hill, I made the mistake of shifting out of first gear. I gained momentum and was soon sliding toward the ditch. I turned the steering wheel away from the ditch, desperate to avoid the rapidly approaching telephone pole and the steep embankment beyond it. Two thoughts flashed through my mind at that point. The first was "Turn into the skid!" The second was "Dang it! Lord, please help me stop! Please help me stop!!"
I did and He did. At the end of that road, the engine quit and I rolled into the driveway of a car repair garage. While I got the car started again, I called my boss to say I'd be late, and I took several deep breaths while I got my nerves under control. The next road was just wet, and I had an uneventful trip after that. But oh, what a ride to that point!
I had quite the ride into work yesterday. When I got up at 5:45, I could hear the wind driving the rain against the house, and I thought to myself, "I guess the snow missed us. Well, good. It'll make the drive to work easier." As my former secretary used to say to me, "Silly boy."
By the time I realized that the rain had changed to snow, it was too late to leave early to deal with the bad roads, and I found myself in a world of difficulty when I left the driveway at 7:00 a.m. For one thing, the left front strut on my car needs to be replaced, as do the front tires that have worn down due to the wobble from the bad strut. For another thing, I have a full set of snow tires, but they're in the back seat of my car, doing me little good in the slush and snow.
From the first movement out of the driveway and onto the road, I could barely get any traction. I was surprised that the road had not been plowed; normally our road is cleared immediately. The roads got worse, and by the time I reached outer Ohio Street, I found a hill that I could not get over. I spent nearly 20 minutes making it over the crest of that hill after a series of stopping, sliding backwards and sideways, and lots of plain old waiting. Still, I made it over.
A quarter of a mile later, as I descended another hill, I made the mistake of shifting out of first gear. I gained momentum and was soon sliding toward the ditch. I turned the steering wheel away from the ditch, desperate to avoid the rapidly approaching telephone pole and the steep embankment beyond it. Two thoughts flashed through my mind at that point. The first was "Turn into the skid!" The second was "Dang it! Lord, please help me stop! Please help me stop!!"
I did and He did. At the end of that road, the engine quit and I rolled into the driveway of a car repair garage. While I got the car started again, I called my boss to say I'd be late, and I took several deep breaths while I got my nerves under control. The next road was just wet, and I had an uneventful trip after that. But oh, what a ride to that point!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Oh yeah, I have a blog
It's Wednesday, November 23. I'm sitting at the dining room table at my father-in-law's house in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, enjoying the relative quiet of Thanksgiving week--the calm before the storm. That's an odd choice of words, though, because there's quite a storm brewing outside. We drove down yesterday to avoid this storm, which is taking the form of wet, heavy snow in our neck of the woods. Rain had barely begun to sprinkle here when we arrived last night around 9:30. The boys were already asleep and their bed was ready, so we got them nestled in and then visited with Dad and Aunt Sue.
One of the blessings of coming a day early is having a quiet day here before Thanksgiving dinner at my sister-in-law's house tomorrow. Another obvious blessing is not traveling the day before Thanksgiving, and not traveling in heavy rain and/or snow! The boys are playing pretty well in the living room, while my wife shows her father some card tricks she has learned. Her aunt is making pies in the kitchen. We're warm, dry and relaxed. It's a pleasant place to be.
I've been working as a substitute teacher in a few different schools this fall, even enjoying four weeks of nearly full time at one school. Truly full time work has not yet been found. Anyone inclined to pray is encouraged to continue doing so!
One of the blessings of coming a day early is having a quiet day here before Thanksgiving dinner at my sister-in-law's house tomorrow. Another obvious blessing is not traveling the day before Thanksgiving, and not traveling in heavy rain and/or snow! The boys are playing pretty well in the living room, while my wife shows her father some card tricks she has learned. Her aunt is making pies in the kitchen. We're warm, dry and relaxed. It's a pleasant place to be.
I've been working as a substitute teacher in a few different schools this fall, even enjoying four weeks of nearly full time at one school. Truly full time work has not yet been found. Anyone inclined to pray is encouraged to continue doing so!
Monday, June 27, 2011
"Keeping Christ in the Classroom"
I have a fascination with the messages various businesses and establishments post on their marquees. For example, there is a Laundromat on Union Street in Bangor that is within shouting distance of the airport. For nearly a decade their marquee has read, “JET ENGINES: THE SOUND OF FREEDOM,” or something akin to that, in reference to the Air National Guard base located at the airport and its role in supporting America's military. Churches often attempt pithy comments, too, to evangelize from the roadside. Some succeed, and some don’t.
I’ve seen the title of this post in front of a parochial school off and on for more than a year now. As with the other messages that other establishments attempt to proclaim, I find myself pondering the implications of the words chosen.
“KEEPING CHRIST IN THE CLASSROOM” sounds very noble and pietistic, but what does it mean? Certainly there is a sense of defiance in play, as the school in question stands opposed to the secularization of education in the public sector. It sounds an assertive note that not only do they “keep Christ in the classroom” but also that other schools should do likewise. Conversely, it could prompt critics to cry, “Yes! Keep Christ in your parochial classrooms and out of ours!”
Now, I suspect that the message is intended to embrace the appropriate world-and-life view that knowing God through his Son Jesus is the proper foundation for all worthwhile knowledge. And perhaps I am splitting hairs to suggest that perhaps the sentiment should be worded a little differently, but I make my suggestion anyway. Instead of “keeping Christ in the classroom,” shouldn’t we be “keeping the classroom in Christ”?
It seems to me that we unintentionally box Christ into the classroom when we “keep him” there and thus end up with a man-centered ideal by thinking we are in control of where Christ is, missing the point as much as the secularists do. It makes me think of the question raised often by soldiers on both sides of a war when they ask if God is on their side, and hearing the reply that it is far better for the soldiers to be sure that they are on God’s side than to worry about him being on theirs. Should not we, as Christian educators, strive to keep our classrooms in Christ than to keep him where he already is?
He is there whether the academics acknowledge him or not, and if there are Christians in the classroom is it not their responsibility to be in Christ and on his side?
Which speaks louder, the words or the actions of Christians? Whether in public, private or Christian schools, Christian educators and learners are the most effective ambassadors of their Savior when their actions scream that they are abiding in Christ. And the screaming actions of active and passive obedience to Christ are not shrill, nor are they accompanied by shrill words.
Here is an example:
Yesterday, I heard my niece speak of how the Lord has changed her and matured her understanding toward the lost sinners she encountered on a mission trip last week. A year ago, she said, she viewed the insults and mocking of the righteous by the unrighteous as evidence that those lost men and women did not deserve to hear the Gospel or to go to heaven. The Lord has taught her that neither does she deserve to have heard the Gospel nor to go to heaven. This year, she viewed those mockers with compassion and a desire to help them by sharing the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ with them.
The shrillness was gone, replaced by love. That is how it needs to be for Christians all the time. We are to be the aroma of Christ (II Corinthians 2:14-15, NIV). When we are the aroma of Christ by our humble obedience and faithfulness, then we are in Christ.
If we are in the classroom as educators or as learners, then we can be faithful for our part of the classroom to be in Christ. We can think critically about the messages that bombard us from other educators and learners, filtering their ideas through the truth of the Bible. We do not have to be preachy, self-righteous, or obnoxious, but we can stand firm with the whole armor of God. (Ephesians 6:1-20, NIV) When we do have something to say, if our lives are producing "fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matthew 3:8, NIV), then our actions will support what we say (that's what I mean by "screaming actions"), and we are more likely to be heard with respect and openness.
Doing this means being humble before the Lord. Psalm 139 provides for us the command and the assurance of how well the Lord knows us. We plead with him to search and know us, and with the psalmist we reflect on how intricately involved God is in our lives already. Someone that knows us that intimately and loves us anyway can be trusted to "create in [us] a clean heart," just as my niece learned. (Psalm 51:10) With humble reliance upon the Lord, we can keep the classroom in Christ.
So is it splitting hairs to say that we should “keep the classroom in Christ” instead of “keep Christ in the classroom”? What do you think?
I’ve seen the title of this post in front of a parochial school off and on for more than a year now. As with the other messages that other establishments attempt to proclaim, I find myself pondering the implications of the words chosen.
“KEEPING CHRIST IN THE CLASSROOM” sounds very noble and pietistic, but what does it mean? Certainly there is a sense of defiance in play, as the school in question stands opposed to the secularization of education in the public sector. It sounds an assertive note that not only do they “keep Christ in the classroom” but also that other schools should do likewise. Conversely, it could prompt critics to cry, “Yes! Keep Christ in your parochial classrooms and out of ours!”
Now, I suspect that the message is intended to embrace the appropriate world-and-life view that knowing God through his Son Jesus is the proper foundation for all worthwhile knowledge. And perhaps I am splitting hairs to suggest that perhaps the sentiment should be worded a little differently, but I make my suggestion anyway. Instead of “keeping Christ in the classroom,” shouldn’t we be “keeping the classroom in Christ”?
It seems to me that we unintentionally box Christ into the classroom when we “keep him” there and thus end up with a man-centered ideal by thinking we are in control of where Christ is, missing the point as much as the secularists do. It makes me think of the question raised often by soldiers on both sides of a war when they ask if God is on their side, and hearing the reply that it is far better for the soldiers to be sure that they are on God’s side than to worry about him being on theirs. Should not we, as Christian educators, strive to keep our classrooms in Christ than to keep him where he already is?
He is there whether the academics acknowledge him or not, and if there are Christians in the classroom is it not their responsibility to be in Christ and on his side?
Which speaks louder, the words or the actions of Christians? Whether in public, private or Christian schools, Christian educators and learners are the most effective ambassadors of their Savior when their actions scream that they are abiding in Christ. And the screaming actions of active and passive obedience to Christ are not shrill, nor are they accompanied by shrill words.
Here is an example:
Yesterday, I heard my niece speak of how the Lord has changed her and matured her understanding toward the lost sinners she encountered on a mission trip last week. A year ago, she said, she viewed the insults and mocking of the righteous by the unrighteous as evidence that those lost men and women did not deserve to hear the Gospel or to go to heaven. The Lord has taught her that neither does she deserve to have heard the Gospel nor to go to heaven. This year, she viewed those mockers with compassion and a desire to help them by sharing the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ with them.
The shrillness was gone, replaced by love. That is how it needs to be for Christians all the time. We are to be the aroma of Christ (II Corinthians 2:14-15, NIV). When we are the aroma of Christ by our humble obedience and faithfulness, then we are in Christ.
If we are in the classroom as educators or as learners, then we can be faithful for our part of the classroom to be in Christ. We can think critically about the messages that bombard us from other educators and learners, filtering their ideas through the truth of the Bible. We do not have to be preachy, self-righteous, or obnoxious, but we can stand firm with the whole armor of God. (Ephesians 6:1-20, NIV) When we do have something to say, if our lives are producing "fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matthew 3:8, NIV), then our actions will support what we say (that's what I mean by "screaming actions"), and we are more likely to be heard with respect and openness.
Doing this means being humble before the Lord. Psalm 139 provides for us the command and the assurance of how well the Lord knows us. We plead with him to search and know us, and with the psalmist we reflect on how intricately involved God is in our lives already. Someone that knows us that intimately and loves us anyway can be trusted to "create in [us] a clean heart," just as my niece learned. (Psalm 51:10) With humble reliance upon the Lord, we can keep the classroom in Christ.
So is it splitting hairs to say that we should “keep the classroom in Christ” instead of “keep Christ in the classroom”? What do you think?
Friday, June 17, 2011
Veep
Meet the new Membership Vice President of the Maine-ly Music Chorus. Yup, I took the plunge and became an officer of the board for the district chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society. I had been doing some work this spring to encourage high school students and their teachers to take a closer look at barbershop singing and the rest of the board thought I’d be a good sucker—er, candidate—to be Membership VP.
Most Monday evenings (since last September) you can find me at 647 Main Street, Bangor, at the Parks and Rec Department, singing in the barbershop chorus and generally making a nuisance of myself. I’ve been blessed to be in the Maine-ly Music Chorus. It is a group of men that loves to sing and likes to have a good time doing it. There are some salty characters in the group, as well as the more mild-flavored ones. A timely wisecrack is usually appreciated, but so is paying attention and rehearsing well.
With all else going on in my life—growing family, changing careers—the Maine-ly Music Chorus is a good place to be:
• I get to sing in a chorus again, which I haven’t done since college. The music offers enough of a challenge—quite a bit considering we practice as a chorus just two hours a week and also because we are expected to be performing with some degree of physical involvement beyond singing with good facial expression—that it is in no way boring. (How’s my hyphen-and-dash-typing-practice going, by the way?)
• It’s a new genre of music in my singing experience. I grew up in a family of singers and was exposed to a lot of variety in music, but I was a bit too young to know what I was hearing and singing much of the time. I still love church music—the hymns and sacred classical pieces—and still sing in the church choir, but this barbershop singing experience brings something new. (Mum was always singing one thing or another, and it wasn’t until I became an adult that I realized that she loved musicals, and almost certainly had seen all of Julie Andrews’ musicals. I had known for a long time that The Sound of Music was one of—if not her number one—favorite movies, but the more I saw of various musicals, thanks to the influence of my dear wife, the more I recognized the music that Mum had sung to me when I was a boy. As I sit here just now Do Re Mi, If You Know the Notes to Sing and Just a Spoonful of Sugar pop into my memory—if those really are the titles or not, that’s what I remember!— as commonly heard tunes.)
• I was blessed, also, to have a professor in college that sang in a barbershop quartet. One spring evening during my final year of college, Dr. Graham gave me a ticket to a barbershop show in downtown Chattanooga. As often happens, I had not realized that one of my professors could have such an interesting hobby (teachers aren’t real people, are they?). I enjoyed the show, but did not envision at that time that I would be singing the same kind of music in a chorus some eighteen years later!
• Acceptance is an overused word, but it fits. I have been accepted into this group, and I have recently realized that I am more at ease around the men in this group than I have been anywhere else for many years.
• It provides an outlet for me that my kids enjoy, too. It is fun to have them come to a sing out or to a show. They learn the songs with me in the car and can often sing my part as well as I can, if not better. I hope that they will sing barbershop someday, too.
• This is a hobby I share with Dad. He’s been in the Maine-ly Music Chorus for five years now, and while Dr. Graham introduced me to barbershop music, Dad convinced me to try it out for myself. Dad is a bass and I am a bari. Several of the other men in the chorus have spoken fondly of having shared this hobby with their dads.
I am looking forward to working with other, more experienced members of the chorus to recruit new members, more youthful ones. As it is, of the current paid membership holders of the chorus I am the youngest, though there is a young man in his early twenties that comes regularly. We need an infusion of youth in our chapter to help it thrive and not just survive. I go and sing because I like the music, I like to sing in a group and I enjoy the camaraderie found there. I hope to find young men (and young women for the local women’s chorus) that are looking for a similar experience and have them join us!
Most Monday evenings (since last September) you can find me at 647 Main Street, Bangor, at the Parks and Rec Department, singing in the barbershop chorus and generally making a nuisance of myself. I’ve been blessed to be in the Maine-ly Music Chorus. It is a group of men that loves to sing and likes to have a good time doing it. There are some salty characters in the group, as well as the more mild-flavored ones. A timely wisecrack is usually appreciated, but so is paying attention and rehearsing well.
With all else going on in my life—growing family, changing careers—the Maine-ly Music Chorus is a good place to be:
• I get to sing in a chorus again, which I haven’t done since college. The music offers enough of a challenge—quite a bit considering we practice as a chorus just two hours a week and also because we are expected to be performing with some degree of physical involvement beyond singing with good facial expression—that it is in no way boring. (How’s my hyphen-and-dash-typing-practice going, by the way?)
• It’s a new genre of music in my singing experience. I grew up in a family of singers and was exposed to a lot of variety in music, but I was a bit too young to know what I was hearing and singing much of the time. I still love church music—the hymns and sacred classical pieces—and still sing in the church choir, but this barbershop singing experience brings something new. (Mum was always singing one thing or another, and it wasn’t until I became an adult that I realized that she loved musicals, and almost certainly had seen all of Julie Andrews’ musicals. I had known for a long time that The Sound of Music was one of—if not her number one—favorite movies, but the more I saw of various musicals, thanks to the influence of my dear wife, the more I recognized the music that Mum had sung to me when I was a boy. As I sit here just now Do Re Mi, If You Know the Notes to Sing and Just a Spoonful of Sugar pop into my memory—if those really are the titles or not, that’s what I remember!— as commonly heard tunes.)
• I was blessed, also, to have a professor in college that sang in a barbershop quartet. One spring evening during my final year of college, Dr. Graham gave me a ticket to a barbershop show in downtown Chattanooga. As often happens, I had not realized that one of my professors could have such an interesting hobby (teachers aren’t real people, are they?). I enjoyed the show, but did not envision at that time that I would be singing the same kind of music in a chorus some eighteen years later!
• Acceptance is an overused word, but it fits. I have been accepted into this group, and I have recently realized that I am more at ease around the men in this group than I have been anywhere else for many years.
• It provides an outlet for me that my kids enjoy, too. It is fun to have them come to a sing out or to a show. They learn the songs with me in the car and can often sing my part as well as I can, if not better. I hope that they will sing barbershop someday, too.
• This is a hobby I share with Dad. He’s been in the Maine-ly Music Chorus for five years now, and while Dr. Graham introduced me to barbershop music, Dad convinced me to try it out for myself. Dad is a bass and I am a bari. Several of the other men in the chorus have spoken fondly of having shared this hobby with their dads.
I am looking forward to working with other, more experienced members of the chorus to recruit new members, more youthful ones. As it is, of the current paid membership holders of the chorus I am the youngest, though there is a young man in his early twenties that comes regularly. We need an infusion of youth in our chapter to help it thrive and not just survive. I go and sing because I like the music, I like to sing in a group and I enjoy the camaraderie found there. I hope to find young men (and young women for the local women’s chorus) that are looking for a similar experience and have them join us!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
The Chicken and Monkey Show June 4 2011
The Chicken and Monkey Show hit the road on Saturday, June 4, 2011. The weather was full of uncertainty, blowing hot and cold with intermittent showers wreaking havoc on plans to play outside. After enduring as much outdoor play as I could, I took the boys to the Cole Land Transportation Museum. The museum has row after row of fascinating vehicles of days gone by. The layout of brick streets includes snow plows, fire trucks, construction equipment, industry, automobiles, and some of the Coles trucks that were the backbone of company for so many years. On the back wall of the building is the train, including a diesel locomotive, a boxcar and a caboose. The Enfield Train Station is there, too, for the curious to visit for a nostalgic look at how railroad traffic once ruled land transportation. Finally, one corner of the museum is reserved for memorabilia of war, especially WW I and WW II.
Admittance for adults is $7 and for children 19 and under, it’s free. The museum is the brainchild of WW II veteran and Coles founder Galen Cole. At the end of our visit there Saturday he came and greeted us. I told him that it was our third visit to the museum, and that we are glad he put his idea into action. He spoke kindly to the boys and invited us to come again.
Christian and Michael enjoyed this visit the most of the three so far. The older they get the more appreciation they have for the artifacts on display and the less fear they have of the mannequins dressed to give the displays more character. (It used to be that they’d shy away from the lanes that had even one mannequin, which significantly reduced the number of sections we could visit.) This time around, after strolling along each lane and exclaiming about one truck or another, the boys headed for the train. With some coaxing, Christian agreed to go into the caboose with Michael and me. With a little more coaxing he agreed to go into the boxcar. Then he begged to go into the engine, but that’s off limits to everyone, so we consoled ourselves with looking at models of the old Bangor & Aroostook steam engines.
Some of the Coles trucks also have displays inside them, so the boys made sure to check out each one, this time led by Christian coaxing Michael to go along. The trucks and the boxcar have videos to watch, but those do not yet hold the attention of our boys. I look forward to their fuller appreciation of that feature someday. I tried to explain how the Pleasant Hill Dairy truck used to visit Daddy’s house when he was a little boy and the driver would leave milk in the box on the porch, but they didn’t care to listen. Someday they will. We also saw the car of former Governor Joseph Brennan, some old snowmobiles, horseless carriages, a steam shovel, an Army jeep, pedal cars, and some antique sleighs and sleds.
Following another visit to the caboose and boxcar, the boys indicated that they were ready to do something else. It was at that point that I decided to purchase them each a toy Coles tractor trailer from the gift shop. The deal was that they had to sit on the bench, facing the other way. They succeeded, as did I. They got their trucks when they got home later in the afternoon.
We left the museum and stepped outside to look briefly at the tank and helicopter on display as part of the Korean War Memorial. As we did so, a gigantic Air Force plane roared low overhead on its way to the BIA runway. That gave me an idea, so we piled into the car and headed for the end of the runway on Odlin Road.
We pulled over and waited for the inevitable return of the plane. It did not disappoint, and as it approached the runway I put their windows down to help them appreciate the full excitement of having a massive jet pass directly over our car as it landed at Bangor International. From the pictures I’ve seen on the internet I’ve gathered that the plane we saw was a C-17. It was awe-inspiring. From our vantage point at the end of the runway we then proceeded to a spot where we could actually see it land. Then we headed off for more adventures.
Going on adventures on a shoestring budget is fun. As I searched my mind for ideas I remembered that I had wanted to visit the Habitat for Humanity store in Bangor, in the Penobscot Plaza by the river. We walked in the door and were immediately greeted with a surprised holler of “Bill!” It was Dan Rhodes, our barbershop chapter president from the Mainely Music Chorus. He was actually working his last day with the Bangor office and was transferring to Ellsworth because it was much closer to his home. We chatted briefly and then the boys and I glanced around ReStore before heading out to the car. That’s when I had another brainstorm.
Railroad tracks run along both banks of the Penobscot River. We were at Penobscot Plaza, with tracks behind the plaza and the Penobscot Bridge that spans the river between Bangor and Brewer also nearby. The train bridge across the Penobscot is right there, too. I took the boys behind the building and we looked at the equipment sitting on the tracks. The day before, Christian and Michael and Mommy had seen a truck and repair equipment on the tracks behind our house, and there in front of us just then was one of the repair vehicles! After standing there for a few minutes, we headed back to the car, the chill of the wind getting to us. Just then, a movement in the distance caught my eye. A train was headed across the bridge from Bangor to Brewer!
I called the boys to watch it with me, and we saw it proceed quickly across the river and into Brewer. I knew that if we headed home soon we’d see the same train go past our house in about 40 minutes’ time. We got back into the car and headed to Brewer. We took a scenic route home, arriving about ten minutes before the train. They found that pretty exciting. I enjoyed it, too. I love being a dad to these boys!
Admittance for adults is $7 and for children 19 and under, it’s free. The museum is the brainchild of WW II veteran and Coles founder Galen Cole. At the end of our visit there Saturday he came and greeted us. I told him that it was our third visit to the museum, and that we are glad he put his idea into action. He spoke kindly to the boys and invited us to come again.
Christian and Michael enjoyed this visit the most of the three so far. The older they get the more appreciation they have for the artifacts on display and the less fear they have of the mannequins dressed to give the displays more character. (It used to be that they’d shy away from the lanes that had even one mannequin, which significantly reduced the number of sections we could visit.) This time around, after strolling along each lane and exclaiming about one truck or another, the boys headed for the train. With some coaxing, Christian agreed to go into the caboose with Michael and me. With a little more coaxing he agreed to go into the boxcar. Then he begged to go into the engine, but that’s off limits to everyone, so we consoled ourselves with looking at models of the old Bangor & Aroostook steam engines.
Some of the Coles trucks also have displays inside them, so the boys made sure to check out each one, this time led by Christian coaxing Michael to go along. The trucks and the boxcar have videos to watch, but those do not yet hold the attention of our boys. I look forward to their fuller appreciation of that feature someday. I tried to explain how the Pleasant Hill Dairy truck used to visit Daddy’s house when he was a little boy and the driver would leave milk in the box on the porch, but they didn’t care to listen. Someday they will. We also saw the car of former Governor Joseph Brennan, some old snowmobiles, horseless carriages, a steam shovel, an Army jeep, pedal cars, and some antique sleighs and sleds.
Following another visit to the caboose and boxcar, the boys indicated that they were ready to do something else. It was at that point that I decided to purchase them each a toy Coles tractor trailer from the gift shop. The deal was that they had to sit on the bench, facing the other way. They succeeded, as did I. They got their trucks when they got home later in the afternoon.
We left the museum and stepped outside to look briefly at the tank and helicopter on display as part of the Korean War Memorial. As we did so, a gigantic Air Force plane roared low overhead on its way to the BIA runway. That gave me an idea, so we piled into the car and headed for the end of the runway on Odlin Road.
We pulled over and waited for the inevitable return of the plane. It did not disappoint, and as it approached the runway I put their windows down to help them appreciate the full excitement of having a massive jet pass directly over our car as it landed at Bangor International. From the pictures I’ve seen on the internet I’ve gathered that the plane we saw was a C-17. It was awe-inspiring. From our vantage point at the end of the runway we then proceeded to a spot where we could actually see it land. Then we headed off for more adventures.
Going on adventures on a shoestring budget is fun. As I searched my mind for ideas I remembered that I had wanted to visit the Habitat for Humanity store in Bangor, in the Penobscot Plaza by the river. We walked in the door and were immediately greeted with a surprised holler of “Bill!” It was Dan Rhodes, our barbershop chapter president from the Mainely Music Chorus. He was actually working his last day with the Bangor office and was transferring to Ellsworth because it was much closer to his home. We chatted briefly and then the boys and I glanced around ReStore before heading out to the car. That’s when I had another brainstorm.
Railroad tracks run along both banks of the Penobscot River. We were at Penobscot Plaza, with tracks behind the plaza and the Penobscot Bridge that spans the river between Bangor and Brewer also nearby. The train bridge across the Penobscot is right there, too. I took the boys behind the building and we looked at the equipment sitting on the tracks. The day before, Christian and Michael and Mommy had seen a truck and repair equipment on the tracks behind our house, and there in front of us just then was one of the repair vehicles! After standing there for a few minutes, we headed back to the car, the chill of the wind getting to us. Just then, a movement in the distance caught my eye. A train was headed across the bridge from Bangor to Brewer!
I called the boys to watch it with me, and we saw it proceed quickly across the river and into Brewer. I knew that if we headed home soon we’d see the same train go past our house in about 40 minutes’ time. We got back into the car and headed to Brewer. We took a scenic route home, arriving about ten minutes before the train. They found that pretty exciting. I enjoyed it, too. I love being a dad to these boys!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Room 204
I am sitting in Room 204 at a local high school, substituting for the second straight day for the chemistry teacher, a woman that apparently misses school extremely rarely. Today was the first time I heard any discouraging words about her from her students, as all the students from yesterday praised her highly. Even in those unkind words I saw the reality that she is a tough teacher with high expectations for her students. Those unwilling to do the work find themselves pushed harder, and they resent it.
Room 204 faces the parking lot and front of the building. The view is pleasant, although spring-but-not-yet-showing-leaves-of-spring in Maine certainly lacks an element of beauty. The grass is very green, a result of regular rains. The trees show their buds of orange, red and green, but the leaves that exist are small and insufficient to provide the comfort that comes with the bursting renewal of full springtime. With rain in the forecast for most of the day, it looks like late fall more than mid-spring.
A classroom below 204 is listening to some boisterous and enthusiastic music. There is a sound of drums, a festive melody, and then, there is silence. The students in this period would prefer the silence. They’re taking a test. That is what I have done for two days now—proctor chemistry tests.
I have met a student or two whose family or parents I know from childhood, and one young man talked with me at length yesterday. He was sporting an interesting t-shirt and I asked him what it meant. As I suspected, it identified him as a Christian. When he learned that he was speaking to a brother, he was excited and pleased. He is of a charismatic persuasion in the Christian faith, and he spoke of his desire to share the Bible with his schoolmates. I encouraged him to be grounded in the truth and to wait for the opportunities the Lord brings to him for evangelism.
My wife asked me last night if I could see myself working in an environment such as this. I quickly answered with a Yes. As much as I love and support Christian education, I see more clearly now the very real need of Christians in public education. While laws exist that prevent me from speaking openly about the beliefs that are the foundation of my very life, I still possess the legal right to answer questions asked of me, and there is no law that can prevent my praying for students while I sit and monitor them during a test or a study hall. As I hear of the hedonistic and empty pursuits of students’ lives and relationships, prayers come quickly to my heart and mind, trusting that in the Lord’s timing he will open the door to speak a timely word.
As I told my interviewers (from a Christian school in PA) on the phone yesterday afternoon, my approach to students (and parents, colleagues, et cetera) must be in light of Creation, Fall, Redemption and Consummation. That is, what God created as good and to which he gave the mandate of stewardship and dominion, having then fallen into sin and corruption, can only be redeemed by the grace of God by the saving work of Jesus Christ, in whom we live in the present world in preparation for the next. Knowing that my students are made in the image of God helps me to treat them as they should be treated, with respect and with the expectation that they do their best, while recognizing that the sinful nature they possess will strive against them. If I can model the love of God in Christ to them, then if the opportunity arises to speak the gospel to them, they will be more likely to be open to what I have to say. That is my prayer and desire.
Room 204 faces the parking lot and front of the building. The view is pleasant, although spring-but-not-yet-showing-leaves-of-spring in Maine certainly lacks an element of beauty. The grass is very green, a result of regular rains. The trees show their buds of orange, red and green, but the leaves that exist are small and insufficient to provide the comfort that comes with the bursting renewal of full springtime. With rain in the forecast for most of the day, it looks like late fall more than mid-spring.
A classroom below 204 is listening to some boisterous and enthusiastic music. There is a sound of drums, a festive melody, and then, there is silence. The students in this period would prefer the silence. They’re taking a test. That is what I have done for two days now—proctor chemistry tests.
I have met a student or two whose family or parents I know from childhood, and one young man talked with me at length yesterday. He was sporting an interesting t-shirt and I asked him what it meant. As I suspected, it identified him as a Christian. When he learned that he was speaking to a brother, he was excited and pleased. He is of a charismatic persuasion in the Christian faith, and he spoke of his desire to share the Bible with his schoolmates. I encouraged him to be grounded in the truth and to wait for the opportunities the Lord brings to him for evangelism.
My wife asked me last night if I could see myself working in an environment such as this. I quickly answered with a Yes. As much as I love and support Christian education, I see more clearly now the very real need of Christians in public education. While laws exist that prevent me from speaking openly about the beliefs that are the foundation of my very life, I still possess the legal right to answer questions asked of me, and there is no law that can prevent my praying for students while I sit and monitor them during a test or a study hall. As I hear of the hedonistic and empty pursuits of students’ lives and relationships, prayers come quickly to my heart and mind, trusting that in the Lord’s timing he will open the door to speak a timely word.
As I told my interviewers (from a Christian school in PA) on the phone yesterday afternoon, my approach to students (and parents, colleagues, et cetera) must be in light of Creation, Fall, Redemption and Consummation. That is, what God created as good and to which he gave the mandate of stewardship and dominion, having then fallen into sin and corruption, can only be redeemed by the grace of God by the saving work of Jesus Christ, in whom we live in the present world in preparation for the next. Knowing that my students are made in the image of God helps me to treat them as they should be treated, with respect and with the expectation that they do their best, while recognizing that the sinful nature they possess will strive against them. If I can model the love of God in Christ to them, then if the opportunity arises to speak the gospel to them, they will be more likely to be open to what I have to say. That is my prayer and desire.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
There has been little to say of late. A week before the big show (barbershop chorus) I came down with a fever and barking cough that put me down for several days, including the better part of Easter. In God's mercy I had enough voice back to sing in the show--what a blast that was! We sang to a sold out, enthusiastic audience. The "after glow" party for the singers and their wives/girlfriends was at my folks' house. That had great food and fellowship. The guest quartet, The Average Joes, asked me to sing a song with them. It took a few moments to screw up my courage to do it, but it was fun.
In other matters, I've had just three days of subbing in Brewer, but will be at Hermon High for two days next week. I love it when they call in advance, as it makes it much easier to plan my days! I've signed up for a world geography course online with U-Maine, Orono. It's a May term class that'll be all over and done with by the end of the month. Then I need to take an economics course. Following that, I'll have to pass the PRAXIS exams to complete my certification attempt in Maine. I am hoping and praying to find a public school teaching job (jr high or sr high) for next fall. If not, I'll keep subbing and waiting for the Lord to provide.
Lastly, I have not cut myself off from all potential administration positions in Christian schools. While no longer my focus, if a school contacts me and wants to interview me I'll do it. The Lord will open the door he wants me to pursue and close the ones not right for us (and for the school). As my dad has always said to me, it's important to keep my options open. In connection with that, I have a phone interview on Monday with a Christian school in the Pittsburgh, PA, vicinity. They found my resume on the ACSI web site and wanted to talk with me. We'll see how it goes.
I see supper's about ready. I'll sign off for now.
In other matters, I've had just three days of subbing in Brewer, but will be at Hermon High for two days next week. I love it when they call in advance, as it makes it much easier to plan my days! I've signed up for a world geography course online with U-Maine, Orono. It's a May term class that'll be all over and done with by the end of the month. Then I need to take an economics course. Following that, I'll have to pass the PRAXIS exams to complete my certification attempt in Maine. I am hoping and praying to find a public school teaching job (jr high or sr high) for next fall. If not, I'll keep subbing and waiting for the Lord to provide.
Lastly, I have not cut myself off from all potential administration positions in Christian schools. While no longer my focus, if a school contacts me and wants to interview me I'll do it. The Lord will open the door he wants me to pursue and close the ones not right for us (and for the school). As my dad has always said to me, it's important to keep my options open. In connection with that, I have a phone interview on Monday with a Christian school in the Pittsburgh, PA, vicinity. They found my resume on the ACSI web site and wanted to talk with me. We'll see how it goes.
I see supper's about ready. I'll sign off for now.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
"Oh, wow. Upside down."
Hearing that comment, I leaned over and looked at the TV in the other room. Sure enough, another canoe was upside down in Kenduskeag Stream at Six Mile Falls.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Sub--stantiated
On the first day that I subbed at a local high school, my role was confined to covering the start of classes while the teacher finished up a meeting and returned to the room. For all of the periods except one, that meant I had just enough time to greet the students and take attendance before the teacher returned. In one period, though, I was there for about fifteen minutes before the teacher got back, and it was the only period for which no lesson plans were left for me.
It was a rowdy group--I had been warned about them so I had prayed and prepared what I would do--and as the period got started I addressed them. I said, "In my experience, I have always expected the best from others, and have expected them to have the proper motivations to do the right thing. In particular, when I ask someone a question--whether I know that person or not--I expect an honest answer."
At that point one of the young men in the front row said, "You haven't been here before, have you?" The rest of the students chuckled.
I responded, "No, I haven't. But it does not change the fact that I expect honesty. And the temptation for you may well be significant to pull my leg or yank my chain or mislead me, but I still expect honesty. In fact, I have been a teacher for 17 years, and that has always been my expectation."
Two things happened at that point. First, when I said that I had been a teacher for 17 years, everyone in the room sat up a little straighter and got a little more quiet. Second, the lad that I had been told would be the most difficult interjected impatiently, "So what's your question?"
I replied, "What are you supposed to be doing in this class? Your teacher did not leave any plans for this period." The lad stood up, walked over near the teacher's desk, picked up a book and called me over. He began to explain what I needed to do. "We have journals. You write this sentence on the board and we copy it down in our journals. Then we make corrections to it. You turn the page and check our corrections."
As this young man spoke, two of his classmates on the other side of the room shrugged their shoulders, threw up their hands and hollered, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?" His look shut them up and he continued to explain the lesson to me. I looked at him, thanked him, and called on the class to get their journals. As I went to the board to begin writing, their teacher returned.
Just over a week later, I filled in for a social studies teacher at the same high school. In my last period of the day, I met the eldest brother of the young man that explained the lesson to me the week before. As I called the attendance list I noticed the last name, which is a little unusual. I said, "You are a brother to _____?"
He said, "Oh, you know my brother, huh? How do you know him?" As he acknowledged being the older brother, his classmates laughed knowingly, for indeed the younger brother has built quite a reputation for himself.
I replied, "Yes, I met him last week when I subbed for some of his teachers (for indeed that young lad had been in almost every class I subbed for the week prior)." As the knowing laughs continued, I pressed on. "In one of your younger brother's classes the teacher didn't leave any lesson plans. Your brother was the one that stood up and showed me what the class was supposed to be doing."
The older brother was stunned, as were his classmates. We talked further, and I described how it had unfolded. He finally shook his head in disbelief and said, "Wow, I gotta tell my dad about that! He won't believe it!"
"Believe it," I said. "Your brother did well."
Later in the period, while talking to the older brother one-on-one, I said, "_____ is a very smart young man. I hope you won't embarrass him in telling your dad about how he helped me last week."
The older brother replied, "Yes, my brother is very smart, especially with hands-on stuff. He goes to the technical high school in the afternoons. But, no, I won't embarrass him. I'm just glad he did the right thing." My final comment to the older brother was that I hoped he would encourage his younger brother to step up and do the right thing more often, and that I enjoyed meeting them.
Pondering these exchanges, I see more confirmation that my idea to start taking the necessary steps to become certified as a teacher in Maine is a good one. I have been reminded how much I love teaching and interacting with students, taking advantage of the opportunity to influence them in godliness, whether they see it that way or not. It is my desire to be used of the Lord in the lives of young people. I pray that these opportunities and steps of faith will yield a bountiful harvest of disciples of Jesus Christ, to him be the honor and the glory alone and forever.
It was a rowdy group--I had been warned about them so I had prayed and prepared what I would do--and as the period got started I addressed them. I said, "In my experience, I have always expected the best from others, and have expected them to have the proper motivations to do the right thing. In particular, when I ask someone a question--whether I know that person or not--I expect an honest answer."
At that point one of the young men in the front row said, "You haven't been here before, have you?" The rest of the students chuckled.
I responded, "No, I haven't. But it does not change the fact that I expect honesty. And the temptation for you may well be significant to pull my leg or yank my chain or mislead me, but I still expect honesty. In fact, I have been a teacher for 17 years, and that has always been my expectation."
Two things happened at that point. First, when I said that I had been a teacher for 17 years, everyone in the room sat up a little straighter and got a little more quiet. Second, the lad that I had been told would be the most difficult interjected impatiently, "So what's your question?"
I replied, "What are you supposed to be doing in this class? Your teacher did not leave any plans for this period." The lad stood up, walked over near the teacher's desk, picked up a book and called me over. He began to explain what I needed to do. "We have journals. You write this sentence on the board and we copy it down in our journals. Then we make corrections to it. You turn the page and check our corrections."
As this young man spoke, two of his classmates on the other side of the room shrugged their shoulders, threw up their hands and hollered, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?" His look shut them up and he continued to explain the lesson to me. I looked at him, thanked him, and called on the class to get their journals. As I went to the board to begin writing, their teacher returned.
Just over a week later, I filled in for a social studies teacher at the same high school. In my last period of the day, I met the eldest brother of the young man that explained the lesson to me the week before. As I called the attendance list I noticed the last name, which is a little unusual. I said, "You are a brother to _____?"
He said, "Oh, you know my brother, huh? How do you know him?" As he acknowledged being the older brother, his classmates laughed knowingly, for indeed the younger brother has built quite a reputation for himself.
I replied, "Yes, I met him last week when I subbed for some of his teachers (for indeed that young lad had been in almost every class I subbed for the week prior)." As the knowing laughs continued, I pressed on. "In one of your younger brother's classes the teacher didn't leave any lesson plans. Your brother was the one that stood up and showed me what the class was supposed to be doing."
The older brother was stunned, as were his classmates. We talked further, and I described how it had unfolded. He finally shook his head in disbelief and said, "Wow, I gotta tell my dad about that! He won't believe it!"
"Believe it," I said. "Your brother did well."
Later in the period, while talking to the older brother one-on-one, I said, "_____ is a very smart young man. I hope you won't embarrass him in telling your dad about how he helped me last week."
The older brother replied, "Yes, my brother is very smart, especially with hands-on stuff. He goes to the technical high school in the afternoons. But, no, I won't embarrass him. I'm just glad he did the right thing." My final comment to the older brother was that I hoped he would encourage his younger brother to step up and do the right thing more often, and that I enjoyed meeting them.
Pondering these exchanges, I see more confirmation that my idea to start taking the necessary steps to become certified as a teacher in Maine is a good one. I have been reminded how much I love teaching and interacting with students, taking advantage of the opportunity to influence them in godliness, whether they see it that way or not. It is my desire to be used of the Lord in the lives of young people. I pray that these opportunities and steps of faith will yield a bountiful harvest of disciples of Jesus Christ, to him be the honor and the glory alone and forever.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
What did you expect, profundity?
Oh, c'mon! We are swamped with the vain pursuit of the profound. We post status updates on Facebook that are tersely worded or even mildly mysterious, hoping for a "like" or twenty, anticipating expressions of "attaboy" or "Amen." Is that the praise we seek? Is that the fulfillment we desire? Is that the treasure we pursue? Are we trying to be profound? Are looking for the "historical" moment or comment to end all others?
Good grief. This was supposed to be a post that mocked affectations of the profound. Where did I go wrong?
Good grief. This was supposed to be a post that mocked affectations of the profound. Where did I go wrong?
Ham Sub
I've had one day each of the last two weeks to sub at Brewer High School. I've enjoyed it both times and would not mind doing it again. When I first told some friends and family that I was going to be a sub last week, I was asked what kind I'd be. My wife's response: Ham, definitely. :-)
Lord, help me to be a good ham sub. I want to taste like my Savior--sweet, compassionate, loving--so that my students will see You.
Lord, help me to be a good ham sub. I want to taste like my Savior--sweet, compassionate, loving--so that my students will see You.
Some Closure
I found out earlier this week that my former employer has found its new headmaster for the 2011-2012 school year. That it is someone from out of state and previously unaffiliated with the school makes it a little easier for me to swallow (a lot easier to swallow, in fact). I wish him success and feel that another cord has been severed that will free me even more to move on with my life. It brings some more closure to that chapter in my life. Thank you, Lord.
A lack of curiosity killed the cat
If only the cat had shown more curiosity and found a way out of his trying situation, he might have survived and thrived!
I had quite a time trying to post on here recently, as the "publish post" button didn't work. If I had lacked the curiosity to figure out why it wasn't working I would've stopped trying. But this cat did not want to stop at failure!
Everything online takes considerably longer on dial-up connections, which is something one does not really appreciate when usually able to access the 'net at high speed. As a result, trying to determine why I could not publish a post consumed more time than I wanted to spend on it, yet I did not want to be forever separated from my blog, either. I persevered and found a way.
Job hunting and finding is similar in that it takes persevering and finding a way. The temptation is to throw one's hands up in the air and say to heck with it, but anything worth doing, anything worth finding, is worth the dial-up time spent searching for it or for a way to do it. I think this could also be called "patience" and "perseverance."
Show the curiosity. Find a way. Trust that God will supply a bountiful harvest, but work for it, too! Don't let a lack of curiosity kill the cat.
I had quite a time trying to post on here recently, as the "publish post" button didn't work. If I had lacked the curiosity to figure out why it wasn't working I would've stopped trying. But this cat did not want to stop at failure!
Everything online takes considerably longer on dial-up connections, which is something one does not really appreciate when usually able to access the 'net at high speed. As a result, trying to determine why I could not publish a post consumed more time than I wanted to spend on it, yet I did not want to be forever separated from my blog, either. I persevered and found a way.
Job hunting and finding is similar in that it takes persevering and finding a way. The temptation is to throw one's hands up in the air and say to heck with it, but anything worth doing, anything worth finding, is worth the dial-up time spent searching for it or for a way to do it. I think this could also be called "patience" and "perseverance."
Show the curiosity. Find a way. Trust that God will supply a bountiful harvest, but work for it, too! Don't let a lack of curiosity kill the cat.
But the Amen Must Be Sung
I grew up in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, singing from the blue, hardcover Trinity Hymnal. My mother was the church organist and she practiced hard to play well at a good pace. I liked her playing, and I loved the hymns.
While the Sunday morning service was considerably more formal, the evening service often included a time for congregants to choose favorite hymns and spiritual songs, and many folks at my church could say the first line of the hymn they wanted to sing and Mum (and others) would know the number without checking the contents pages in the back of the book. Amazing Grace was #402. Great Is Thy Faithfulness was #27. We always sang the Amen for the planned hymns, but not during the evening song service.
I knew many hymns by heart, and one occasion when they served me best was when Mum was dying of cancer. She was in the hospital, heavily medicated and often agitated. Due to her condition, she did not often know that I was visiting when I stopped by after school. During a number of my visits, Mum would become upset by the tubes and other paraphernalia attached to her and would try to pull them out of her arms and body. The only idea that came into my head at those moments was to sing a hymn to her, so that is what I did. She always calmed down right away, and I would continue singing, humming, or whistling as many tunes as I could recall for as long as I could. I sang the Amen to let her know one song was done before starting another one and to give myself time to think of the next one to do.
At her memorial service, we sang her favorite hymn, How Firm a Foundation. For several years afterward, I confused another hymn with the word “foundation” in it for Mum’s favorite, and found I could not sing it without choking up. Now there are two that do that to me, even 24 years later!
In 1990, the publishers of Trinity Hymnal released a revised collection of hymns, nicknamed “the red one” for the primary option for binding color. A number of new tunes were added and some less popular ones were subtracted. The key for many hymns was lowered as much as possible without making accompaniment more difficult, and guitar chords were added where possible. Naturally, the hymns were renumbered. Amazing Grace is #460, and Great Is Thy Faithfulness is #32. Some of the King Jamesian expressions were modernized (I still sing “thee, thou, thy, and ye” in most of the hymns, and How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place just does not work for me), and the Amens were removed. As an agitator for more upbeat and contemporary music in the church at that time, I was very pleased with a number of the changes. However, I was not happy that the Amen would no longer be sung.
One of my favorite inclusions is #455, And Can It Be That I Should Gain. The depth of theological riches on display in that hymn brings an aching joy to my soul, and to sing it with the throngs of God’s people to the praise of my Lord is to taste heaven itself. “Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature’s night; thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth, and followed thee. Amazing love! How can it be that thou my God, shouldst die for me?”
As hard as it is to select one favorite or even my top five hymns, I think that what follows is a pretty good attempt to round out those top five: It Is Well with My Soul (#691), Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (#457), Jesus! What A Friend for Sinners! (#698), and All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (#297; Diadem). It is very hard to sing these hymns without a hearty Amen at the end!
I pray that when my life is done that I will have been faithful to God to the end. I pray that the truth of God’s redemption will be known in my life as expressed in that stanza above. And if I am called by him to endure illness or hardship before going home to glory, I pray that my soul and mind will be comforted by the hymns as Mum was those many years ago. I want these sung at my funeral, the ones from the revised Trinity Hymnal, but the Amen must be sung.
While the Sunday morning service was considerably more formal, the evening service often included a time for congregants to choose favorite hymns and spiritual songs, and many folks at my church could say the first line of the hymn they wanted to sing and Mum (and others) would know the number without checking the contents pages in the back of the book. Amazing Grace was #402. Great Is Thy Faithfulness was #27. We always sang the Amen for the planned hymns, but not during the evening song service.
I knew many hymns by heart, and one occasion when they served me best was when Mum was dying of cancer. She was in the hospital, heavily medicated and often agitated. Due to her condition, she did not often know that I was visiting when I stopped by after school. During a number of my visits, Mum would become upset by the tubes and other paraphernalia attached to her and would try to pull them out of her arms and body. The only idea that came into my head at those moments was to sing a hymn to her, so that is what I did. She always calmed down right away, and I would continue singing, humming, or whistling as many tunes as I could recall for as long as I could. I sang the Amen to let her know one song was done before starting another one and to give myself time to think of the next one to do.
At her memorial service, we sang her favorite hymn, How Firm a Foundation. For several years afterward, I confused another hymn with the word “foundation” in it for Mum’s favorite, and found I could not sing it without choking up. Now there are two that do that to me, even 24 years later!
In 1990, the publishers of Trinity Hymnal released a revised collection of hymns, nicknamed “the red one” for the primary option for binding color. A number of new tunes were added and some less popular ones were subtracted. The key for many hymns was lowered as much as possible without making accompaniment more difficult, and guitar chords were added where possible. Naturally, the hymns were renumbered. Amazing Grace is #460, and Great Is Thy Faithfulness is #32. Some of the King Jamesian expressions were modernized (I still sing “thee, thou, thy, and ye” in most of the hymns, and How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place just does not work for me), and the Amens were removed. As an agitator for more upbeat and contemporary music in the church at that time, I was very pleased with a number of the changes. However, I was not happy that the Amen would no longer be sung.
One of my favorite inclusions is #455, And Can It Be That I Should Gain. The depth of theological riches on display in that hymn brings an aching joy to my soul, and to sing it with the throngs of God’s people to the praise of my Lord is to taste heaven itself. “Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature’s night; thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth, and followed thee. Amazing love! How can it be that thou my God, shouldst die for me?”
As hard as it is to select one favorite or even my top five hymns, I think that what follows is a pretty good attempt to round out those top five: It Is Well with My Soul (#691), Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (#457), Jesus! What A Friend for Sinners! (#698), and All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (#297; Diadem). It is very hard to sing these hymns without a hearty Amen at the end!
I pray that when my life is done that I will have been faithful to God to the end. I pray that the truth of God’s redemption will be known in my life as expressed in that stanza above. And if I am called by him to endure illness or hardship before going home to glory, I pray that my soul and mind will be comforted by the hymns as Mum was those many years ago. I want these sung at my funeral, the ones from the revised Trinity Hymnal, but the Amen must be sung.
But the Amen Must Be Sung
I grew up in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, singing from the blue, hardcover Trinity Hymnal. My mother was the church organist and she practiced hard to play well at a good pace. I liked her playing, and I loved the hymns.
While the Sunday morning service was considerably more formal, the evening service often included a time for congregants to choose favorite hymns and spiritual songs, and many folks at my church could say the first line of the hymn they wanted to sing and Mum (and others) would know the number without checking the contents pages in the back of the book. Amazing Grace was #402. Great Is Thy Faithfulness was #27. We always sang the Amen for the planned hymns, but not during the evening song service.
I knew many hymns by heart, and one occasion when they served me best was when Mum was dying of cancer. She was in the hospital, heavily medicated and often agitated. Due to her condition, she did not often know that I was visiting when I stopped by after school. During a number of my visits, Mum would become upset by the tubes and other paraphernalia attached to her and would try to pull them out of her arms and body. The only idea that came into my head at those moments was to sing a hymn to her, so that is what I did. She always calmed down right away, and I would continue singing, humming, or whistling as many tunes as I could recall for as long as I could. I sang the Amen to let her know one song was done before starting another one and to give myself time to think of the next one to do.
At her memorial service, we sang her favorite hymn, How Firm a Foundation. For several years afterward, I confused another hymn with the word “foundation” in it for Mum’s favorite, and found I could not sing it without choking up. Now there are two that do that to me, even 24 years later!
In 1990, the publishers of Trinity Hymnal released a revised collection of hymns, nicknamed “the red one” for the primary option for binding color. A number of new tunes were added and some less popular ones were subtracted. The key for many hymns was lowered as much as possible without making accompaniment more difficult, and guitar chords were added where possible. Naturally, the hymns were renumbered. Amazing Grace is #460, and Great Is Thy Faithfulness is #32. Some of the King Jamesian expressions were modernized (I still sing “thee, thou, thy, and ye” in most of the hymns, and How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place just does not work for me), and the Amens were removed. As an agitator for more upbeat and contemporary music in the church at that time, I was very pleased with a number of the changes. However, I was not happy that the Amen would no longer be sung.
One of my favorite inclusions is #455, And Can It Be That I Should Gain. The depth of theological riches on display in that hymn brings an aching joy to my soul, and to sing it with the throngs of God’s people to the praise of my Lord is to taste heaven itself. “Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature’s night; thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth, and followed thee. Amazing love! How can it be that thou my God, shouldst die for me?”
As hard as it is to select one favorite or even my top five hymns, I think that what follows is a pretty good attempt to round out those top five: It Is Well with My Soul (#691), Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (#457), Jesus! What A Friend for Sinners! (#698), and All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (#297; Diadem). It is very hard to sing these hymns without a hearty Amen at the end!
I pray that when my life is done that I will have been faithful to God to the end. I pray that the truth of God’s redemption will be known in my life as expressed in that stanza above. And if I am called by him to endure illness or hardship before going home to glory, I pray that my soul and mind will be comforted by the hymns as Mum was those many years ago. I want these sung at my funeral, the ones from the revised Trinity Hymnal, but the Amen must be sung.
While the Sunday morning service was considerably more formal, the evening service often included a time for congregants to choose favorite hymns and spiritual songs, and many folks at my church could say the first line of the hymn they wanted to sing and Mum (and others) would know the number without checking the contents pages in the back of the book. Amazing Grace was #402. Great Is Thy Faithfulness was #27. We always sang the Amen for the planned hymns, but not during the evening song service.
I knew many hymns by heart, and one occasion when they served me best was when Mum was dying of cancer. She was in the hospital, heavily medicated and often agitated. Due to her condition, she did not often know that I was visiting when I stopped by after school. During a number of my visits, Mum would become upset by the tubes and other paraphernalia attached to her and would try to pull them out of her arms and body. The only idea that came into my head at those moments was to sing a hymn to her, so that is what I did. She always calmed down right away, and I would continue singing, humming, or whistling as many tunes as I could recall for as long as I could. I sang the Amen to let her know one song was done before starting another one and to give myself time to think of the next one to do.
At her memorial service, we sang her favorite hymn, How Firm a Foundation. For several years afterward, I confused another hymn with the word “foundation” in it for Mum’s favorite, and found I could not sing it without choking up. Now there are two that do that to me, even 24 years later!
In 1990, the publishers of Trinity Hymnal released a revised collection of hymns, nicknamed “the red one” for the primary option for binding color. A number of new tunes were added and some less popular ones were subtracted. The key for many hymns was lowered as much as possible without making accompaniment more difficult, and guitar chords were added where possible. Naturally, the hymns were renumbered. Amazing Grace is #460, and Great Is Thy Faithfulness is #32. Some of the King Jamesian expressions were modernized (I still sing “thee, thou, thy, and ye” in most of the hymns, and How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place just does not work for me), and the Amens were removed. As an agitator for more upbeat and contemporary music in the church at that time, I was very pleased with a number of the changes. However, I was not happy that the Amen would no longer be sung.
One of my favorite inclusions is #455, And Can It Be That I Should Gain. The depth of theological riches on display in that hymn brings an aching joy to my soul, and to sing it with the throngs of God’s people to the praise of my Lord is to taste heaven itself. “Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature’s night; thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth, and followed thee. Amazing love! How can it be that thou my God, shouldst die for me?”
As hard as it is to select one favorite or even my top five hymns, I think that what follows is a pretty good attempt to round out those top five: It Is Well with My Soul (#691), Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (#457), Jesus! What A Friend for Sinners! (#698), and All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (#297; Diadem). It is very hard to sing these hymns without a hearty Amen at the end!
I pray that when my life is done that I will have been faithful to God to the end. I pray that the truth of God’s redemption will be known in my life as expressed in that stanza above. And if I am called by him to endure illness or hardship before going home to glory, I pray that my soul and mind will be comforted by the hymns as Mum was those many years ago. I want these sung at my funeral, the ones from the revised Trinity Hymnal, but the Amen must be sung.
I grew up in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, singing from the blue, hardcover Trinity Hymnal. My mother was the church organist and she practiced hard to play well at a good pace. I liked her playing, and I loved the hymns. While the Sunday morning service was considerably more formal, the evening service often included a time for congregants to choose favorite hymns and spiritual songs, and many folks at my church could say the first line of the hymn they wanted to sing and Mum (and others) would know the number without checking the contents pages in the back of the book. Amazing Grace was #402. Great Is Thy Faithfulness was #27. We always sang the Amen for the planned hymns, but not during the evening song service.
I knew many hymns by heart, and one occasion when they served me best was when Mum was dying of cancer. She was in the hospital, heavily medicated and often agitated. Due to her condition, she did not often know that I was visiting when I stopped by after school. During a number of my visits, Mum would become upset by the tubes and other paraphernalia attached to her and would try to pull them out of her arms and body. The only idea that came into my head at those moments was to sing a hymn to her, so that is what I did. She always calmed down right away, and I would continue singing, humming, or whistling as many tunes as I could recall for as long as I could. I sang the Amen to let her know one song was done before starting another one and to give me a couple of quick moments to think of the next hymn.
At her memorial service, we sang her favorite hymn, How Firm a Foundation. For several years afterward, I confused another hymn with the word “foundation” in it for Mum’s favorite, and found I could not sing it without choking up. Now there are two that do that to me, even 24 years later!
In 1990, the publishers of Trinity Hymnal released a revised collection of hymns, nicknamed “the red one” for the primary option for binding color. A number of new tunes were added and some less popular ones were subtracted. The key for many hymns was lowered as much as possible without making accompaniment more difficult, and guitar chords were added where possible. Some of the King Jamesian expressions were modernized (I still sing “thee, thou, thy, and ye” in most of the hymns, and How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place just does not work for me), and the Amens were removed. As an agitator for more upbeat and contemporary music in the church at that time, I was very pleased with a number of the changes. However, I was not happy that the Amen would no longer be sung. Naturally, the hymns were renumbered. Amazing Grace is #460, and Great Is Thy Faithfulness is #32.
One of my favorite inclusions is #455, And Can It Be That I Should Gain, though I must be utterly honest and say that I love the hymns so much that it is very difficult to pinpoint just one favorite, or even a top five. Still, the depth of theological riches on display in that hymn brings an aching joy to my soul, and to sing it with the throngs of God’s people to the praise of my Lord is to taste heaven itself. “Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature’s night; thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth, and followed thee. Amazing love! How can it be that thou my God, shouldst die for me?”
As hard as it is to select my top five hymns, I think that what follows is a pretty good attempt. It Is Well with My Soul (#691) is another wonderful hymn, as are Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (#457), Jesus! What A Friend for Sinners! (#698), and All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (#297; Diadem).
I pray that when my life is done that I will have been faithful to God to the end. I pray that the truth of God’s redemption will be known in my life as expressed in that stanza above. And if I am called by him to endure illness before going home to glory, I pray that my soul and mind will be comforted by the hymns as Mum was those many years ago. I want these sung at my funeral, the ones from the revised Trinity Hymnal, but the Amen must be sung.
I knew many hymns by heart, and one occasion when they served me best was when Mum was dying of cancer. She was in the hospital, heavily medicated and often agitated. Due to her condition, she did not often know that I was visiting when I stopped by after school. During a number of my visits, Mum would become upset by the tubes and other paraphernalia attached to her and would try to pull them out of her arms and body. The only idea that came into my head at those moments was to sing a hymn to her, so that is what I did. She always calmed down right away, and I would continue singing, humming, or whistling as many tunes as I could recall for as long as I could. I sang the Amen to let her know one song was done before starting another one and to give me a couple of quick moments to think of the next hymn.
At her memorial service, we sang her favorite hymn, How Firm a Foundation. For several years afterward, I confused another hymn with the word “foundation” in it for Mum’s favorite, and found I could not sing it without choking up. Now there are two that do that to me, even 24 years later!
In 1990, the publishers of Trinity Hymnal released a revised collection of hymns, nicknamed “the red one” for the primary option for binding color. A number of new tunes were added and some less popular ones were subtracted. The key for many hymns was lowered as much as possible without making accompaniment more difficult, and guitar chords were added where possible. Some of the King Jamesian expressions were modernized (I still sing “thee, thou, thy, and ye” in most of the hymns, and How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place just does not work for me), and the Amens were removed. As an agitator for more upbeat and contemporary music in the church at that time, I was very pleased with a number of the changes. However, I was not happy that the Amen would no longer be sung. Naturally, the hymns were renumbered. Amazing Grace is #460, and Great Is Thy Faithfulness is #32.
One of my favorite inclusions is #455, And Can It Be That I Should Gain, though I must be utterly honest and say that I love the hymns so much that it is very difficult to pinpoint just one favorite, or even a top five. Still, the depth of theological riches on display in that hymn brings an aching joy to my soul, and to sing it with the throngs of God’s people to the praise of my Lord is to taste heaven itself. “Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature’s night; thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth, and followed thee. Amazing love! How can it be that thou my God, shouldst die for me?”
As hard as it is to select my top five hymns, I think that what follows is a pretty good attempt. It Is Well with My Soul (#691) is another wonderful hymn, as are Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (#457), Jesus! What A Friend for Sinners! (#698), and All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (#297; Diadem).
I pray that when my life is done that I will have been faithful to God to the end. I pray that the truth of God’s redemption will be known in my life as expressed in that stanza above. And if I am called by him to endure illness before going home to glory, I pray that my soul and mind will be comforted by the hymns as Mum was those many years ago. I want these sung at my funeral, the ones from the revised Trinity Hymnal, but the Amen must be sung.
But the Amen Must Be Sung
I grew up in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, singing from the blue, hardcover Trinity Hymnal. My mother was the church organist and she practiced hard to play well at a good pace. I liked her playing, and I loved the hymns. While the Sunday morning service was considerably more formal, the evening service often included a time for congregants to choose favorite hymns and spiritual songs, and many folks at my church could say the first line of the hymn they wanted to sing and Mum (and others) would know the number without checking the contents pages in the back of the book. Amazing Grace was #402. Great Is Thy Faithfulness was #27. We always sang the Amen for the planned hymns, but not during the evening song service.
I knew many hymns by heart, and one occasion when they served me best was when Mum was dying of cancer. She was in the hospital, heavily medicated and often agitated. Due to her condition, she did not often know that I was visiting when I stopped by after school. During a number of my visits, Mum would become upset by the tubes and other paraphernalia attached to her and would try to pull them out of her arms and body. The only idea that came into my head at those moments was to sing a hymn to her, so that is what I did. She always calmed down right away, and I would continue singing, humming, or whistling as many tunes as I could recall for as long as I could. I sang the Amen to let her know one song was done before starting another one.
At her memorial service, we sang her favorite hymn, How Firm a Foundation. For several years afterward, I confused another hymn with the word “foundation” in it for Mum’s favorite, and found I could not sing it without choking up. Now there are two that do that to me, even 24 years later!
In 1990, the publishers of Trinity Hymnal released a revised collection of hymns, nicknamed “the red one” for the primary option for binding color. A number of new tunes were added and some less popular ones were subtracted. The key for many hymns was lowered as much as possible without making accompaniment more difficult, and guitar chords were added where possible. Some of the King Jamesian expressions were modernized (I still sing “thee, thou, thy, and ye” in most of the hymns, and How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place just does not work for me), and the Amens were removed. As an agitator for more upbeat and contemporary music in the church at that time, I was very pleased with a number of the changes. However, I was not happy that the Amen would no longer be sung. Naturally, the hymns were renumbered. Amazing Grace is #460, and Great Is Thy Faithfulness is #32.
One of my favorite inclusions is #455, And Can It Be That I Should Gain, though I must be utterly honest and say that I love the hymns so much that it is very difficult to pinpoint just one favorite, or even a top five. Still, the depth of theological riches on display in that hymn brings an aching joy to my soul, and to sing it with the throngs of God’s people to the praise of my Lord is to taste heaven itself. “Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature’s night; thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth, and followed thee. Amazing love! How can it be that thou my God, shouldst die for me?”
As hard as it is to select my top five hymns, I think that what follows is a pretty good attempt. It Is Well with My Soul (#691) is another wonderful hymn, as are Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (#457), Jesus! What A Friend for Sinners! (#698), and All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (#297; Diadem).
I pray that when my life is done that I will have been faithful to God to the end. I pray that the truth of God’s redemption will be known in my life as expressed in that stanza above. And if I am called by him to endure illness before going home to glory, I pray that my soul and mind will be comforted by the hymns as Mum was those many years ago. I want these sung at my funeral, the ones from the revised Trinity Hymnal, but the Amen must be sung.
I knew many hymns by heart, and one occasion when they served me best was when Mum was dying of cancer. She was in the hospital, heavily medicated and often agitated. Due to her condition, she did not often know that I was visiting when I stopped by after school. During a number of my visits, Mum would become upset by the tubes and other paraphernalia attached to her and would try to pull them out of her arms and body. The only idea that came into my head at those moments was to sing a hymn to her, so that is what I did. She always calmed down right away, and I would continue singing, humming, or whistling as many tunes as I could recall for as long as I could. I sang the Amen to let her know one song was done before starting another one.
At her memorial service, we sang her favorite hymn, How Firm a Foundation. For several years afterward, I confused another hymn with the word “foundation” in it for Mum’s favorite, and found I could not sing it without choking up. Now there are two that do that to me, even 24 years later!
In 1990, the publishers of Trinity Hymnal released a revised collection of hymns, nicknamed “the red one” for the primary option for binding color. A number of new tunes were added and some less popular ones were subtracted. The key for many hymns was lowered as much as possible without making accompaniment more difficult, and guitar chords were added where possible. Some of the King Jamesian expressions were modernized (I still sing “thee, thou, thy, and ye” in most of the hymns, and How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place just does not work for me), and the Amens were removed. As an agitator for more upbeat and contemporary music in the church at that time, I was very pleased with a number of the changes. However, I was not happy that the Amen would no longer be sung. Naturally, the hymns were renumbered. Amazing Grace is #460, and Great Is Thy Faithfulness is #32.
One of my favorite inclusions is #455, And Can It Be That I Should Gain, though I must be utterly honest and say that I love the hymns so much that it is very difficult to pinpoint just one favorite, or even a top five. Still, the depth of theological riches on display in that hymn brings an aching joy to my soul, and to sing it with the throngs of God’s people to the praise of my Lord is to taste heaven itself. “Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature’s night; thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth, and followed thee. Amazing love! How can it be that thou my God, shouldst die for me?”
As hard as it is to select my top five hymns, I think that what follows is a pretty good attempt. It Is Well with My Soul (#691) is another wonderful hymn, as are Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (#457), Jesus! What A Friend for Sinners! (#698), and All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (#297; Diadem).
I pray that when my life is done that I will have been faithful to God to the end. I pray that the truth of God’s redemption will be known in my life as expressed in that stanza above. And if I am called by him to endure illness before going home to glory, I pray that my soul and mind will be comforted by the hymns as Mum was those many years ago. I want these sung at my funeral, the ones from the revised Trinity Hymnal, but the Amen must be sung.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Do it anyway
I recently had dinner with some friends that have had a mentoring ministry for many years. Part of the vision for this ministry is to have self-supporting young adults join the team, so a home was purchased to give them a very inexpensive home base (room and board for far less than anywhere but living at home), in part so that they could be mentored by my friends in preparation for mentoring others. As it turns out, there are a number of young adults that want to share in the exciting work of mentoring, but that struggle to understand and act upon the need to be self-supporting. The thrilling, hands-on work of ministry is followed by time idly spent, “waiting for the Lord,” as it were, to give direction to their lives. It is a picture of the worldview that one must “know” what his or her life will be spent doing before spending any time doing anything. Where are faith and faithfulness in that? Where is doing all things as unto the Lord? Where is the maturity? Indeed, growin’ up is hard to do, but that does not mean that it should not be done!
As I spoke with my friends, I was struck by the severe short-sightedness (immaturity) of the eager young people in the situation. Indeed, I could not imagine a more wonderful opportunity than they had, being squandered more fantastically than they were squandering it. Mentoring others takes maturity. Sustainable, believable mentoring means living up to one’s responsibilities. This was lacking severely in these young people. Their gifts for the work of this ministry will eventually be seriously undermined if they do not grow up, and grow up soon. There many Bible verses that come to mind when thinking about this, but I Corinthians 13:11 brings immediate clarity.
The first eight verses of First Corinthians 13 are very familiar. They speak of what love truly is and is not, but they are followed by an interesting comment in verse 11, before finishing with familiar words again in verse 13. I Corinthians 13:11 says, “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” It is time to give up childish ways! It is time to set aside the world’s view of perpetual adolescence and be responsible. It is not spiritual in the Christian sense to simply “wait for the Lord” if we are not acting within the boundaries He has given us in His Word to show responsibility for our lives. That is immaturity at its height. That is childishness. It is also selfishness.
In my current unemployment, I must fight the same childish self-centeredness and must daily challenge myself to look for what the Lord would have me do to support my family. I am working while waiting. I ply my hand to this direction and that, praying for God to work His will in my life (our lives) and knowing that He will answer that prayer. Sitting on my hands accomplishes nothing (literally!).
This mentoring ministry is close to my heart and to the passion God has given to me for Christian education. If it were possible to support my wife and children and to be part of this ministry, I would love to do it. However, the Lord has already placed some wonderful (and much younger) people for this work, and this dear organization would be greatly blessed by their full participation. I am praying that these young people will do the hard things (thanks, Alex & Brett Harris!) necessary to grow up and give up childish ways. It would not be a detriment to themselves at all. It would only benefit their ministry and themselves. I know from my own experience that growin’ up is hard to do. Do it anyway.
As I spoke with my friends, I was struck by the severe short-sightedness (immaturity) of the eager young people in the situation. Indeed, I could not imagine a more wonderful opportunity than they had, being squandered more fantastically than they were squandering it. Mentoring others takes maturity. Sustainable, believable mentoring means living up to one’s responsibilities. This was lacking severely in these young people. Their gifts for the work of this ministry will eventually be seriously undermined if they do not grow up, and grow up soon. There many Bible verses that come to mind when thinking about this, but I Corinthians 13:11 brings immediate clarity.
The first eight verses of First Corinthians 13 are very familiar. They speak of what love truly is and is not, but they are followed by an interesting comment in verse 11, before finishing with familiar words again in verse 13. I Corinthians 13:11 says, “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” It is time to give up childish ways! It is time to set aside the world’s view of perpetual adolescence and be responsible. It is not spiritual in the Christian sense to simply “wait for the Lord” if we are not acting within the boundaries He has given us in His Word to show responsibility for our lives. That is immaturity at its height. That is childishness. It is also selfishness.
In my current unemployment, I must fight the same childish self-centeredness and must daily challenge myself to look for what the Lord would have me do to support my family. I am working while waiting. I ply my hand to this direction and that, praying for God to work His will in my life (our lives) and knowing that He will answer that prayer. Sitting on my hands accomplishes nothing (literally!).
This mentoring ministry is close to my heart and to the passion God has given to me for Christian education. If it were possible to support my wife and children and to be part of this ministry, I would love to do it. However, the Lord has already placed some wonderful (and much younger) people for this work, and this dear organization would be greatly blessed by their full participation. I am praying that these young people will do the hard things (thanks, Alex & Brett Harris!) necessary to grow up and give up childish ways. It would not be a detriment to themselves at all. It would only benefit their ministry and themselves. I know from my own experience that growin’ up is hard to do. Do it anyway.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
I'm flattered
I'm flattered. I really am. I got a phone call one evening this week from a Christian school about 60 miles south of here on I-95. They're a very young school and they have a lot of exciting opportunities ahead of them. I was called because they are interested in hiring a combination of teacher and administrator for next fall. I've done that, and I'm willing to do it again.
The first twenty minutes of the call involved my saying, "Hello, this is Bill," and then listening while an impassioned description of the founding and status of the school was delivered in detail.
Eventually, after having a couple of chances to add my comments and ask a few questions, the caller then revealed the salary range for this position. It was less than half what I was making at my previous employer (where we were living paycheck-to-paycheck as it was). Then the caller told me the tuition rates charged, explaining that tuition was only for the paying of salaries. They were much too low, too.
The saying, "You get what you pay for," is aptly applied to this situation. Would I enjoy the challenge of helping a fledgling school grow and mature? Sure, I would! But there is a real cost involved. If this school added to its total one-third of what it already charges, the tuition would still be incredibly cheap for a private school in the U.S., and it would help them meet their staffing needs much more quickly.
It was flattering to be called and to hear that my skills were sought after by this school. However, I still have to support my family, and this would not do it.
Still trusting in the Lord and praying for the right fit.
The first twenty minutes of the call involved my saying, "Hello, this is Bill," and then listening while an impassioned description of the founding and status of the school was delivered in detail.
Eventually, after having a couple of chances to add my comments and ask a few questions, the caller then revealed the salary range for this position. It was less than half what I was making at my previous employer (where we were living paycheck-to-paycheck as it was). Then the caller told me the tuition rates charged, explaining that tuition was only for the paying of salaries. They were much too low, too.
The saying, "You get what you pay for," is aptly applied to this situation. Would I enjoy the challenge of helping a fledgling school grow and mature? Sure, I would! But there is a real cost involved. If this school added to its total one-third of what it already charges, the tuition would still be incredibly cheap for a private school in the U.S., and it would help them meet their staffing needs much more quickly.
It was flattering to be called and to hear that my skills were sought after by this school. However, I still have to support my family, and this would not do it.
Still trusting in the Lord and praying for the right fit.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Market your school!
I cannot tell you how many times I was told that I needed to market my school, and that I had to expect to spend money to get the name of the school recognized in the community. At the same time, the same people were telling me
Creating and Maintaining a School Community
I have been struck several times of late by the comments of former clients and colleagues regarding changes that took place at my former job, some of which occurred before I got done there. One point that has settled into my thinking consistently has been that the sense of community was significantly altered in recent years, and the feeling that the school was a "family" had been lost.
Many attempts were made over the years to promote community activities, but all the projects and events brought less than satisfactory results. It is really about relationships, and the missing piece fell into place for a couple of weeks ago. A parent was telling me her frustrations over the fact that although she had several children in the school, both she and her husband had to work in order to afford the tuition, resulting in a disconnection from the school community. She commented, in particular, on the fact that she did not even know most of the school board members, and she surmised that there are several other families with a similar experience.
The truth of the matter is that in a school that is run by a parent board, it is vital to the success of that school and its board that everyone knows each other. I believe very strongly that the board of directors of such a school would do itself a great favor by assigning each member a list of families in the school to contact each month, either in person or by phone. By creating an atmosphere of relationships with those families--and having the list change every three months or so--the board can establish a real connection with the families it is serving, greatly improving communication and reducing the likelihood for distrust. Then, when the organization undergoes a major transition of any kind, the relationships are built to withstand the splintering that often disrupts even the possibility of making the necessary changes smoothly.
Build the relationships now to create and maintain a school community.
Many attempts were made over the years to promote community activities, but all the projects and events brought less than satisfactory results. It is really about relationships, and the missing piece fell into place for a couple of weeks ago. A parent was telling me her frustrations over the fact that although she had several children in the school, both she and her husband had to work in order to afford the tuition, resulting in a disconnection from the school community. She commented, in particular, on the fact that she did not even know most of the school board members, and she surmised that there are several other families with a similar experience.
The truth of the matter is that in a school that is run by a parent board, it is vital to the success of that school and its board that everyone knows each other. I believe very strongly that the board of directors of such a school would do itself a great favor by assigning each member a list of families in the school to contact each month, either in person or by phone. By creating an atmosphere of relationships with those families--and having the list change every three months or so--the board can establish a real connection with the families it is serving, greatly improving communication and reducing the likelihood for distrust. Then, when the organization undergoes a major transition of any kind, the relationships are built to withstand the splintering that often disrupts even the possibility of making the necessary changes smoothly.
Build the relationships now to create and maintain a school community.
And so we wait
It has been more than three months since my last day on the job (not counting the fact that I was paid till the end of that month). In that time, I have spent most of my days as a "house-husband." I help shuttle the boys to and from school, do some of the grocery shopping (having learned to get only what is on the list!), and I have begun to cook again. For several weeks my wife had a part-time job three days a week, and I tried especially hard those days to cook and keep the house presentable. It helped that both boys were in school two of the three days each week.
I spend a couple of hours each day perusing job opportunities online and replying to inquiries sent directly to me or for which I have some kind of referral. I have had countless interviews, but nothing has opened up yet. I am signed up as a substitute teacher in a couple of local towns, but have not been called.
All in all, this is a waiting game. I have tried to use my time to good advantage, and I keep in mind that when the next job does come along it will likely consume a considerable amount of my time, so I need to be conscientious now about spending time with my boys.
Folks aren't hiring. And so we wait.
I spend a couple of hours each day perusing job opportunities online and replying to inquiries sent directly to me or for which I have some kind of referral. I have had countless interviews, but nothing has opened up yet. I am signed up as a substitute teacher in a couple of local towns, but have not been called.
All in all, this is a waiting game. I have tried to use my time to good advantage, and I keep in mind that when the next job does come along it will likely consume a considerable amount of my time, so I need to be conscientious now about spending time with my boys.
Folks aren't hiring. And so we wait.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Integrating the disintegrated
The challenge of Christian education is to integrate what sin has disintegrated.
In Creation, man was given an integrated, holistic view of himself in relation to God, to others and to the rest of creation. In the Fall, when man sinned, that world-and-life view was disintegrated and now we must work hard to have the right view of ourselves in relation to God, to others and to the rest of creation. It is only possible for those who are in Christ in Redemption, but it will not be perfected in us until Glory. So how do we integrate through education what sin has disintegrated?
In Creation, man was given an integrated, holistic view of himself in relation to God, to others and to the rest of creation. In the Fall, when man sinned, that world-and-life view was disintegrated and now we must work hard to have the right view of ourselves in relation to God, to others and to the rest of creation. It is only possible for those who are in Christ in Redemption, but it will not be perfected in us until Glory. So how do we integrate through education what sin has disintegrated?
Saturday, January 8, 2011
I am the youngest of five kids in my family. Now when I say kids, please bear in mind that we are all in our forties at this point. The progression is girl, boy, girl, girl, boy. I live in close proximity to the eldest, although the third sister is only a couple of hours away. My brother lives in Wisconsin and my other sister is in North Carolina.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Seeds of Hope
"Planting a Harvest One Seed at a Time" is the motto of the Seeds of Hope Food Pantry that operates from the basement of the Beacon of Hope Church of God in Bangor, Maine. Every Thursday from 10am to 1pm, the pantry is open to patrons that qualify for assistance, but the day begins much earlier than that for the hardy staff of the pantry.
Many days the first workers arrive at 6:00 a.m. to begin transforming the Sunday school and Youth room into the food pantry. The little basement includes a corner kitchen, a tiny nursery, a bathroom (not available to the public and sometimes too full of boxes and racks for even the staff to use), and a half dozen portable wooden dividers used to provide artificial separation that many small churches experience as they make the most of limited space.
There is one door for coming and going. Only work staff are allowed in and out before 10am. The director of the pantry, Mr. Isaac Mann, comes and goes with the truck, collecting from donors and delivering to the pantry as the rest of the staff sets up the tables and positions the dividers. Each of the regular staff members is assigned to a station. He or she must set up his or her own station, displaying the goods available that day.
Three of the dividers are used to show which way patrons should go when they first enter the pantry. The old upright piano shares a similar function, blocking one corner of the room to give order to the entryway. Every patron turns left at the end of the piano and signs in at the registration table; returning patrons are assigned which weeks they can come for assistance and must show their pantry-issued cards when signing in.
From that point, they go from one station to the next in an awkward loop through the basement, selecting what they want from each section (within the posted limits). Some experienced patrons bring reusable shopping bags while others use the plastic bags donated to the pantry and sorted to make sure there are no holes in them.
Patrons make just one loop through the setup, so they must remember to look at the tables on each side of them to acquire all the goods offered. The first station on the left as they leave the registration table is dry goods. Oftentimes, there are quart-sized ziploc bags of dog food, followed by an assortment of toys, calculators, markers, bath & body products and more. On the opposite tables they find clothes or snack foods.
As they turn the corner to the right (about twelve feet down the line from the registration table), they come to the breads and pastries. Breads include white and wheat, oat nut, rye, bagels, english muffins, brown 'n' serve rolls, hamburger and hotdog buns, and more. Some days there is a limit of two from that table, while on other days patrons can have four or more. The pastries table has cookies, round cakes, sheet cakes, bite-sized treats, cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, and more.
Ten feet further and it's time to turn the corner again. The inner tables, the ones to the patrons' right, continues with snack foods, typically. In the warm months, ice cream is often available. The rest of the year, it's wafers, digestive biscuits, juice boxes, and the like.
The outer ring of tables has the meat, literally. At that last corner is a container of drinks--soda and bottled water, mostly. Then there are a series of coolers from which the patrons can choose "heat & eat" foods such as rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy, cheese & broccoli, and so on, all packaged to give equal servings to each patron.
After the coolers are the vegetables and fruit, including squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, apples, oranges, grapefruit, grapes, onions, bagged spinach, lettuce, green beans, broccoli and salads. Then there are sandwiches or small containers of chicken salad, fruit, and the choice of meat- and cheese-ends. Finally, bags of potatoes top off the offerings of the day. When the patrons reach the potatoes they are at the door again, ready to be on their way.
The pantry staff members stand at each station, giving friendly directions and smiles to the patrons. Some staffers walk through the line with patrons, carrying their bags and then helping them to their cars.
A local pizzeria donates lunch to the staff every Thursday, and the fellowship time is refreshing after the labors of the day. Then it's time to clean up, put the basement back in order for youth group and church.
Many days the first workers arrive at 6:00 a.m. to begin transforming the Sunday school and Youth room into the food pantry. The little basement includes a corner kitchen, a tiny nursery, a bathroom (not available to the public and sometimes too full of boxes and racks for even the staff to use), and a half dozen portable wooden dividers used to provide artificial separation that many small churches experience as they make the most of limited space.
There is one door for coming and going. Only work staff are allowed in and out before 10am. The director of the pantry, Mr. Isaac Mann, comes and goes with the truck, collecting from donors and delivering to the pantry as the rest of the staff sets up the tables and positions the dividers. Each of the regular staff members is assigned to a station. He or she must set up his or her own station, displaying the goods available that day.
Three of the dividers are used to show which way patrons should go when they first enter the pantry. The old upright piano shares a similar function, blocking one corner of the room to give order to the entryway. Every patron turns left at the end of the piano and signs in at the registration table; returning patrons are assigned which weeks they can come for assistance and must show their pantry-issued cards when signing in.
From that point, they go from one station to the next in an awkward loop through the basement, selecting what they want from each section (within the posted limits). Some experienced patrons bring reusable shopping bags while others use the plastic bags donated to the pantry and sorted to make sure there are no holes in them.
Patrons make just one loop through the setup, so they must remember to look at the tables on each side of them to acquire all the goods offered. The first station on the left as they leave the registration table is dry goods. Oftentimes, there are quart-sized ziploc bags of dog food, followed by an assortment of toys, calculators, markers, bath & body products and more. On the opposite tables they find clothes or snack foods.
As they turn the corner to the right (about twelve feet down the line from the registration table), they come to the breads and pastries. Breads include white and wheat, oat nut, rye, bagels, english muffins, brown 'n' serve rolls, hamburger and hotdog buns, and more. Some days there is a limit of two from that table, while on other days patrons can have four or more. The pastries table has cookies, round cakes, sheet cakes, bite-sized treats, cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, and more.
Ten feet further and it's time to turn the corner again. The inner tables, the ones to the patrons' right, continues with snack foods, typically. In the warm months, ice cream is often available. The rest of the year, it's wafers, digestive biscuits, juice boxes, and the like.
The outer ring of tables has the meat, literally. At that last corner is a container of drinks--soda and bottled water, mostly. Then there are a series of coolers from which the patrons can choose "heat & eat" foods such as rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy, cheese & broccoli, and so on, all packaged to give equal servings to each patron.
After the coolers are the vegetables and fruit, including squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, apples, oranges, grapefruit, grapes, onions, bagged spinach, lettuce, green beans, broccoli and salads. Then there are sandwiches or small containers of chicken salad, fruit, and the choice of meat- and cheese-ends. Finally, bags of potatoes top off the offerings of the day. When the patrons reach the potatoes they are at the door again, ready to be on their way.
The pantry staff members stand at each station, giving friendly directions and smiles to the patrons. Some staffers walk through the line with patrons, carrying their bags and then helping them to their cars.
A local pizzeria donates lunch to the staff every Thursday, and the fellowship time is refreshing after the labors of the day. Then it's time to clean up, put the basement back in order for youth group and church.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Lord, have mercy!
My heart has been saddened recently by the abandonment of the Lord by people I know. Some I have known for more than twenty years. A number of Bible passages come to mind at times like this.
Galatians 6:1: "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted." Lord, have mercy!
Galatians 6:7-10: "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." Lord, have mercy!
II Timothy 4:3-4: "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." Lord, have mercy!
There is so much more in Scripture to be explored on this, but the refrain of my heart, the pleading of my soul, is the same: Lord, have mercy!
Galatians 6:1: "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted." Lord, have mercy!
Galatians 6:7-10: "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." Lord, have mercy!
II Timothy 4:3-4: "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." Lord, have mercy!
There is so much more in Scripture to be explored on this, but the refrain of my heart, the pleading of my soul, is the same: Lord, have mercy!
Back to Vicki
Vicki was kind enough to post a reply to my blog message about her devotional book, but because I did not log onto my blog from late October until today (except once, very, very briefly), I did not see her message to me until tonight!
My wife picked up Vicki Caruana's devotional book from the desk today and asked where I got it. I told her I'd picked it up a couple of years ago.
"Is it any good?" she asked. In response, I flipped through the pages to some of the readings I did with the teachers shortly before I got done at the school. She liked what she heard. The selections spoke volumes to our staff and to me of where our foundation must be in our vocation.
Vicki, thanks again!
My wife picked up Vicki Caruana's devotional book from the desk today and asked where I got it. I told her I'd picked it up a couple of years ago.
"Is it any good?" she asked. In response, I flipped through the pages to some of the readings I did with the teachers shortly before I got done at the school. She liked what she heard. The selections spoke volumes to our staff and to me of where our foundation must be in our vocation.
Vicki, thanks again!
The Axe Fell, The End Has Come, It's All Over
The school board kept me around to start the school year, and while my contract did not expire until December 31, my usefulness was done long before that (can anyone say "lame duck"?). As of the week of Thanksgiving I was half-time, and on December 3 I was out the door.
I have been available to the interim administrator for technical issues that she has encountered, and my younger son is still enrolled in preschool for the rest of the year, but that is where my involvement ends.
While it has been a painful parting, I am thankful that I serve a God that knows the future, holds the future in his hands, and holds me in his hands, too, so I am trusting him to guide my steps. There was a generous gift from the families of the school the day I left, and I am deeply grateful to them for that. We are well supported by family, friends, and our church family. God is taking care of us.
I have been available to the interim administrator for technical issues that she has encountered, and my younger son is still enrolled in preschool for the rest of the year, but that is where my involvement ends.
While it has been a painful parting, I am thankful that I serve a God that knows the future, holds the future in his hands, and holds me in his hands, too, so I am trusting him to guide my steps. There was a generous gift from the families of the school the day I left, and I am deeply grateful to them for that. We are well supported by family, friends, and our church family. God is taking care of us.
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