Molly Sings

What a gift!

Grandma Lynn (my mom's best friend) sent this bow in the mail.  Cho Chweet!

I Love Introverts

I love introverts.  My dad was one for sure.  My sister and brother are introverts.  I married one.  I am raising at least a couple.  (Molly spent two hours in her room by herself yesterday just playing and reading books.)  Amanda's whole family (almost) are introverts.  In our first few years of dating and marriage the difference in our communication styles, ways of processing and desires for interaction were real points of conflict.  Since then, Amanda and I have both grown to value the assets in the others personality.  I wish at times that I could be okay with just being by myself.  I have learned to do a little more internal processing before I simply spew out my thoughts.  And Amanda has grown to see the importance of community and desires open communication.

All that as an introduction.  Yesterday I came across a new blog entitled Introverts Corner.  This isn't just the ramblings of some random introvert.  It is part of the Psychology Today website.  There are some interesting articles.  The one that caught Amanda's eye and the one we talked about last night was An Interview with Adam McHugh, author of Introverts in the Church.  It's about a book that Adam McHugh has written about how the evangelical church is geared toward extroverts. 

Churches sometimes unintentionally equate faithfulness with extroversion; we draw up a composite sketch of the "ideal" Christian--gregarious, with an overt passion and enthusiasm, eager to participate in a wide variety of activities, shares their faith with strangers regularly, assumes leadership positions quickly, opens up their home to others often--and this ideal person starts sounding suspiciously like an extrovert.

If you're an introvert or someone who loves one, it's definitely worth checking out.  Adam McHugh has a whole blog just about the introverted church here.  It really is interesting to think about this slant in the church.  I remember the comment of a Bible professor after I complimented him on his sermon at church.  He said, "It's not my favorite thing to do.  Mostly I just like to hole up with my books."  I am so glad that there are people like him who want to "hole up with his books."  This must of been the feeling of people like Paul, Luther, Calvin, Lewis and many other scholars and pastors on whom we lean so heavily.  Let's celebrate introversion!  Let's celebrate by nodding our heads quickly, averting our eyes, and retreating to our rooms to write complimentary notes.

Sleeping Beauty

Give Me One Reason

I was just listening to my Slacker radio station and Tracy Chapman's Give Me One Reason came on.  Whenever I hear that song, I am transported to Marion, Indiana, to the Grist Mill.  I'm twenty-one years old.  I can still feel what it felt like to be there at eleven o'clock or twelve or two.  It was open all night, just down the road from the strip club.  I would order eggs.  I would talk with the regulars and the guys from Taylor who went there to smoke, in all of their pent up rebellion.  The ceiling was yellow with cigarette smoke.  A jukebox sat in the corner.  I don't remember the waitress' name, but she was the favorite, a large black woman with an amazing smile.  This was her favorite song.  We knew it was and we would play it for her.  I can smell the place: the bathrooms wreaked of urine almost as much as the main room did of smoke.  I went back as much as I could.

I tried to go a back a few years later.  It had burned to the ground.

What are the songs that are tied so tightly to memories for you?   When it plays, you're transported.

Hymn of the Week--Rejoice, the Lord Is King

We have been doing our HOTW for a while now and it is amazing how still I come across a hymn and think to myself, we haven't done THIS one yet?  This is a great one because even Matt and Molly can get the last few lines.  Molly especially loves to sing.


Hymn of the Week
Rejoice, The Lord Is King
Words by Charles Wesley
Music by John Darwall

Rejoice, the Lord is King! Your Lord and King adore;
Mortals give thanks and sing, and triumph evermore;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

 

Just the kind of piano that Shube likes

In looking for a video for my last hymn of the week post, I came across this one.  One day we were watching TV at Shirley's house and Jimmy Swaggart was on playing the piano.  Needless to say, he's not her favorite pianist.  I kind of like it though.  See especially beginning at 2:21.  I guess I'd call this honkey-tonk gospel.  Kind of feels like you need a shot of Jim Beam and a big black leather Bible.

Hymn of the Week--No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus

It has been a while since I have posted our hymn for the week.  We have been singing them, but not with much regularity.  This week we are reading about Question 29 in our catechism devotions.

Question 29: How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?
Answer: We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit.

This made me think of how grateful I am for Christs redemption and how the Holy Spirit has applied it in my life.

Hymn of the Week
No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus
Words and music by C.F. Weigle


I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus,
Since I found in Him a friend so strong and true.
I would tell you how He changed my life completely;
He did something no other friend could do. 

      Chorus
      No one ever cared for me like Jesus;
      There's no other friend so kind as He.
      No one else could take the sin and darkness from me;
      O how much He cared for me.
 

Cup and Saucer/Eiffel Tower

The kids got a string trick book for Christmas they have loved it.  Amanda has been leading the charge, conjuring all of her string trick powers from years ago.  I have even learned a couple.  Watch Ben demonstrate the cup and saucer and the Eiffel Tower.

Hard at work

From January

Yesterday we got a good couple of inches of snow.  That afternoon, the boys took their new snow shovels that they got for Christmas out and got to work. I am always proud of the boys when I see them working hard.