Tuesday, October 26, 2010

quick update

the fall leaves are finally on display here in the northwest - an especially lovely sight on those rare days when the sun is shining and the sky is blue. the girls have made it through the midpoint of their semesters, and m and i have been settling into our 'new' life as empty-nesters. here are a few verbal snapshots:
n has had quite the adjustment at rice university in houston, where the weather is warm (still 80F) and the social life is soaked in alcohol. i've honestly been quite surprised by the reports of student life at what is supposedly a top-rate academic institution, one of newsweek magazine's 'new ivies.' but some things never make it into the promotional literature! she seems to be doing well academically, loading up on languages (french, spanish, and attic greek) to go with her earth science class on the oceans. outside of class, she spends time with 'the people' (the group of friends pictured above), hangs out in the south asian society, and fellowships in a couple of campus ministries and a local church. she would appreciate your prayers, as the spiritual climate of rice is a major challenge.
b is now in her junior(!) year at columbia and still loving life in new york city. she's a history major, and appears to be headed toward a concentration in american history. afterward, she hopes to go to law school (she's studying for the lsat now) with the hope of helping to abolish human trafficking; she is literally a modern abolitionist. her schedule is incredibly packed (the blessing and curse of being a high-capacity person): community impact (the mentoring program she heads up for high school students in harlem), intervarsity (where she led the new student outreach and gave more messages this fall than i did!), and not one but two jobs (in the law school and in the history department). the downside (and the item for prayer) is that she tends to say 'yes' to too many things, frustrating herself and others; pray that she will be able to set a few firm boundaries, even if it means disappointing some folks. in her spare time (yes, she actually does find a little), she works out, plays a bit of soccer, and loves to explore the big apple.

m is in her second year at fuller seminary northwest. though she complains that she is not a student and doesn't know what she's doing, she is doing a pretty fair imitation, getting very good grades and even winning an award this past year for helping to create community among students at the seminary. she is taking three classes this fall - new testament greek, systematic theology, and spiritual formation. it's a bit of a stretch academically and financially, but she is hanging in there pretty well. and she still finds time to encourage her classmates and help them with their greek, as well as to be an active prayer minister at our church. the prayer request for m is that she will not only complete her work, but gain all that God has for her in the process.

i continue serving as a staff pastor at lighthouse, largely in the small groups and local outreach ministries. but i fill in wherever i can, including in the pulpit (only about four times a year, which is less than i've spoken in any of the other 25 years or so in ministry, so i get restless) and helping with web development. i've got my eye on the leadership development process of the church, but time will tell whether i get a chance to do much in that area. we are actively praying and discussing the future; your prayers (and suggestions) are most welcome!

the LORD God has given me the tongue of disciples that i may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. he awakens me morning by morning, he awakens my ear to listen as a disciple. the LORD God has opened my ear; and i was not disobedient, nor did i turn back.

(isaiah 50:4-5)

Saturday, October 16, 2010

more gospel according to glee - i'll stand by you

the glee cast covered the pretenders' 1994 hit "i'll stand by you" during the first season. not the music of my people - but i was listening to it today, and struck again by the voice. who says these things? who is the one who invites us to come to him and promises never to desert us (matthew 11:28-30, deuteronomy 31:6)? who is the one who has seen the dark side and knows righteous anger (john 2:23, mark 3:5)? who is the one who calls us to confess (1 john 1:9), but promises that nothing that we tell him could ever change his love for us (romans 8:39)?
oh, why you look so sad?
tears are in your eyes
come on and come to me now

don't be ashamed to cry
let me see you through
'cause i've seen the dark side too

when the night falls on you
you don't know what to do
nothing you confess
could make me love you less

i'll stand by you
i'll stand by you
won't let nobody hurt you
i'll stand by you

so if you're mad, get mad
don't hold it all inside
come on and talk to me now

hey, what you got to hide?
i get angry too
well i'm a lot like you

when you're standing at the crossroads
don't know which path to choose
let me come along
'cause even if you're wrong

i'll stand by you
i'll stand by you
won't let nobody hurt you
i'll stand by you
take me in into your darkest hour
and i'll never desert you
i'll stand by you

and when...
when the night falls on you, baby
you're feeling all alone
you won't be on your own

i'll stand by you
i'll stand by you
won't let nobody hurt you

i'll stand by you
take me in, into your darkest hour
and i'll never desert you
i'll stand by you
i'll stand by you
won't let nobody hurt you
i'll stand by you
and i'll never desert you
i'll stand by you
i'll stand by you
won't let nobody hurt you
i'll stand by you

i'll stand by you

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

a bridge over troubled water


i was too young to be a huge simon and garfunkel fan; they rose to fame when i was only three years old and broke up when i was about eight. but one of their biggest hits was featured on glee this week, and it got me wondering: in whose voice is the song really written?

when you're weary, feeling small
when tears are in your eyes, i will dry them all
i'm on your side when times get rough
and friends just can't be found
like a bridge over troubled water
i will lay me down
like a bridge over troubled water
i will lay me down

when you're down and out
when you're on the street
when evening falls so hard
i will comfort you
i'll take your part
when darkness comes
and pains is all around
like a bridge over troubled water
i will lay me down
like a bridge over troubled water
i will lay me down

sail on silvergirl
sail on by
your time has come to shine
all your dreams are on their way
see how they shine
if you need a friend
i'm sailing right behind
like a bridge over troubled water
i will ease your mind
like a bridge over troubled water
i will ease your mind
i'll admit that i can't really make sense of that last verse with my theory, but i also don't think it quite fits the rest of the song; i wonder if perhaps it was added later as some sort of gloss. [an old friend suggests that silvergirl could be a reference to the church, the bride of Jesus, and i have to admit, it fits. thanks, d!]

but the rest of the song seems clearly to come from one voice:

many say that this song is about friendship. that's at least partially true. but there is really only one bridge, one who lays down his life for all of us.

though he was in the form of God,
he did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.
and being found in human form,
he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.
therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
(philippians 2:5-11)