Blessed Assurance
by Fanny Crosby

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
Oh what a foretaste of glory divine
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of his Spirit, washed in his blood

This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long

Perfect submission, perfect delight
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love

This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long

Perfect submission, all is at rest
I in my Savior am happy and blessed
Watching and waiting, looking above
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love

This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long

Come they told me, a new born King to see
Our finest gifts we bring, to lay before the King
So to honor Him, when we come. 

Little Baby, I am a poor boy too
I have no gift to bring, that’s fit to give a King
Shall I play for you, on my drum? 

Mary nodded, the ox and lamb kept time
I played my drum for Him, I played my best for Him
Then He smiled at me, me and my drum.

A speaker recently came to our school to talk about brain development and how that can inform our interactions with kids. In his workshop, he mentioned that the average American household has 34 seconds of meaningful interaction per day. Yeah … 34 seconds.

Chatting about schedules, what’s going on, current news, menus, and house rules don’t count … he was talking about dialogue that’s meaningful to the child. Here’s something that Janet, another teacher, wrote in response:

He also spoke about home rituals, activities which give to the child a message of your values. What is so valued in your home that it happens first, always, without exception? This part was meaningful to me. What I make important now is not about today, but is an investment in what I hope for them tomorrow. This family dinner—helping with a chore—small things that are always done together.

He talked about having a reading time with his child before bed—but that he allowed it to be interrupted by a phone call, sudden visitors, and so forth—but that he always went back to the reading. He thought that he was okay because he returned to the activity, showing that it was worth finishing. However, what he was showing his child was that reading is important except if these other things happen. He decided to fully commit—and the message of value that gave to reading in his home and TO HIS CHILD was significant. When the phone rang and his wife called for him, he asked to return the call later. When guests came, he said I’ll be down in a little while.

This was a big deal to me as a parent, for I’ve been shuffling the same way—but also as a teacher. What do I let get bumped? What messages of value am I sending my students? What is important, but not important enough to be immoveable. This is not about flexibility—we all need to be flexible—but about ordering my day at work and at home so that my children really do see me living out my values for myself and my family.

I’m so involved in today—and this is like UbD for the home—what is the big picture? Am I more interested in getting them through today or investing in who they will become as adults? In my language arts class, am I more interested in getting them done with a part so we can have the quiz or in helping to make them engaged learners in reading and writing—successful high school and college students (and beyond).

That makes me think … I want to have a home where we constantly talk about meaningful things … confronting difficult issues, digging through relationships, learning about each other’s sphere’s of influence, and being intentional about caring about each other’s stuff.

Albert Einstein, the author of this quotation, was a smart man.

[original photo]

“Mr. Webel, aren’t you the new school psychiatrist?”

– A seventh grader

“Can you imagine him being in charge of discipline at the middle school? He’ll be like, ‘You stole food from the cafeteria? Ok, you’re wearing a dress to school tomorrow.’”

– Ellen a former student/camper, talking to her friend at church

“If you want to be free to serve Jesus, there’s no question — stay single. Marriage takes a lot of time. But if you want to become more like Jesus, I can’t imagine any better thing to do than to get married. Being married forces you to face some character issues you’d never have to face otherwise.”

– Gary Thomas, Sacred Marriage

When I sing hymns like the one I posted yesterday, my heart comes alive. It tells a tale, a glorious account of death and renewal, betrayal and redemption, and mystery and revelation. It takes me on a journey, illuminating a path that has been traveled many times before and opening my eyes to a story that can deeply impact me.

When I sing modern choruses, however, I have a very different experience. Just check out this one, which often shares the same title, “Amazing Love”:

You Are My King
by Billy James Foote

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken.
I’m accepted, You were condemned.
I’m alive and well, Your spirit is within me,
because You died and rose again.

Amazing love, how can it be
that You, my King, would die for me?
Amazing love, I know it’s true.
It’s my joy to honor You.
In all I do, I honor You.

You are my King.

I mean … it’s good, don’t get me wrong … but it’s also quite flat. The words speak Truth, but it’s impossible to tell where it’s coming from or where it’s going. The song conveys emotions but fails to connect them with a context. And the repetition that is required to sing these choruses often numbs me, turning off my mind and putting me into cruise control.

What’s missing, I think, is narrative. This communication tool, perhaps the most powerful and effective in our toolbox, is too often forgotten and ignored. We’ve lost the ability to tell a tale as we worship … and in the process, I think, we’ve crippled our own ability to intertwine our story with His.

So … how do we get the narrative back?

And Can It Be
by Charles Wesley, 1708-1788

And can it be that I should gain
an interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me who caused His pain …
for me who Him to death pursued!
Amazing love! How can it be
that Thou, my God, should die for me?

‘Tis mystery all: the Immortal dies!
Who can explore his strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
to sound the depths of love divine.
‘Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above …
so free, so infinite His grace!
Emptied Himself of all but love,
and bled for Adam’s helpless race.
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free …
for O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
fast bound in sin and nature’s night.
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light!
My chains fell off, my heart was free …
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread.
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine.
Alive in Him, my living Head,
and clothed in righteousness divine.
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
and claim the crown through Christ my own!

“Trying to understand men gets confusing. Yet, just to put this out there, I once heard in one of my classes that when trying to understand the differences between the thought processes of guys and girls, it’s like waffles and spaghetti. While guys focus on one pocket of information at at time, girls thoughts are interconnected and run together like spaghetti noodles.”

– Kim Miller

“I don’t know if I’ve ever told you this directly, but I think you’re one of the most important people at our school, in terms of how you interact with the kids and do what you do. I want you to be excruciatingly happy here.”

– My boss

Seriously … can you think of something more encouraging to hear from your jefe? And I don’t think it’s just lip-service … I was just offered the opportunity to develop a program that is really in line with where my heart is here at school (with actual compensation) and given the freedom to marginalize some of the mundane things that often weigh this job down.

You think I’d have it down by now
Been practicin’ for thirty years
I should have walked a thousand miles
So what am I still doin’ here
Reachin’ out for that same old piece of forbidden fruit
I slip and fall and I knock my halo loose
Somebody tell me what’s a boy supposed to do?

I get so clumsy
I get so foolish
I get so stupid
And then I feel so useless
But You’re sayin’ You love me
And You’re still gonna hold me
And that You wanna be near me
‘Cause You’re makin’ me holy
You’re still makin’ me holy, yeah

I’m gonna get it right this time
I’ll be strong and I’ll make You proud
I’ve prayed that prayer a thousand times
But the rooster crows and my tears roll down (again)
Then You remind me You made me from the dust
And I can never, no never, be good enough
And that You’re not gonna let that come between us

I get so clumsy
I get so foolish
I get so stupid
And then I feel so useless
But You’re sayin’ You love me
And You’re still gonna hold me
And that You wanna be near me
‘Cause You’re makin’ me holy
You’re still makin’ me holy, yeah

From where I stand
Your holiness is up so high I can never reach it
My only hope is to fall on Jesus

I get so clumsy
I get so foolish
I get so stupid
And then I feel so useless
But You’re sayin’ You love me
And You’re still gonna hold me
And that You wanna be near me
‘Cause You’re makin’ me holy
You’re still makin’ me holy, yeah

– Chris Rice

I’m hesitant to write yet another post about China and the earthquake … but the following email, which I just received from Melody, a friend living 80km from the epicenter, is quite amazing:

Thank you Lance, for your concern and the prayers from your church. I am ok, so is my family. Chengdu wasn’t affected much by the earthquake because of its unique geographical features, no building is crashed here. But the rest of my hometown was damaged severly. Lots of pretty mountainous areas disappeared together with their people. The pandas are doing ok though.

Yes, all chinese people are pulling together because of this tragedy. And we have never felt so much love among us. Which is quite comforting. Lots of people are willing to sacrifice for others. Many school teachers died saving students, P.L.A. soldiers kept on saving others when some of them lost all their family members, all the taxi drivers in town drove out of the city to the dangerous places to help transport injured people for free … even beggers are helping, some of them donating all those small bills they have.

The earthquake destroyed our homes and families, but God will use it to create a strong bond of love among us. I can tell how much He loves Sichuan’s people.

Melody

It was really good to finally hear that Melody and her family are safe. Even more, it was awesome to hear her describe the upside to the earthquake. As devastating as it was, this disaster came at a time when the passion and fervor of the Chinese people is at its peak. Centuries of repressed emotion, terrible pain, and delayed gratification have been coming to the surface all year … and now, the quake has essentially provided lots of chances for love and compassion, things that the hearts in China so desperately need.

I’m convinced … disaster always has opportunity stapled to it. And I, for one, am eager to see what’s going to happen over there!

I’ve tried to explain to people that the area where I lived in China last year was pretty backwater. Sure, the infrastructure was fairly developed (in some ways), but the lifestyle and attitudes and society in general were pretty backwards, at times.

I just received an email from Grahm Dion, one of my “fellow Americans” in Loudi, that gives a good example of what I’m talking about.

last night was by far the strangest experiment in social psychology i have ever seen. of course you all know the earthquake that recently destroyed part of the west here. well, for the past week the country has been watching images of earthquake victims, all the time. and there have been many tears spilled watching tv, and relating to the victims. the thing is most chinese feel things as a group. if you ask them how they feel, they will tell you how everyone feels, not how they indivudualy feel.

so, last night, a rumor hit loudi that there was going to be an earthquake. not this year, not ths month, not this week,….but last night! it is completly rediculous. and i tried to calm the people i talked to, but they were completly incapable of thinking for themselves. so, everyone went outside with their blankets and things, just like they say on tv. they were living their tv experience and did not want logic to intervene.

it was awesome. the whole city of loudi, was outside last night. midnight. the food vendors were selling food, the police were telling people not to worry, there were public announcements on the signs, and just general, having a good time, paranoia. whee!

there was one chinese guy that asked me if my government told me about an earthquake coming to loudi. he was convinced that the u.s. government could predict earthquakes and was only telling u.s. citizens the results. so he is prodding me to tell him the big secret of when the earthquake is goin to hit. Awesome! like i said, last night was incredible. i wish you could have been here with me.

ok , gotta go teach.

much love,
grahm

Oh, man … I miss that place.

How do you explain, how do you describe
A love that goes from east to west
And runs as deep as it is wide
You know all our hopes, Lord, You know all our fears
And words cannot express the love we feel
But we long for You to hear

So listen to our hearts, hear our spirits sing
A song of praise that flows from those You have redeemed
We will use the words we know
To tell You what an awesome God You are
But words are not enough to tell You of our love
So listen to our hearts

If words could fall like rain from these lips of mine
And if I had a thousand years
Lord, I would still run out of time
If you listen to my heart, every beat will say
“Thank You for the life, thank You for the truth
Thank You for the way.”

So listen to our hearts, hear our spirits sing
A song of praise that flows from those You have redeemed
We will use the words we know
To tell You what an awesome God You are
But words are not enough to tell You of our love
So listen to our hearts

– Geoff Moore