The Futurist

Kind of sounds like the title of a movie. But it's the job title of a guest speaker at our Library Board meeting a few weeks ago. I heard the term "futurist" and I thought, "You can make money doing that??"

Our unabridged dictionary defines a futurist as someone who practices or advocates "a point of view that seeks life's meaning or fulfillment in the future rather than in the past or present: utopianism."

Trying to process the speaker's world view through the lenses of my world view was a bit of a struggle. He spent considerable time talking about the amount of information that is available to us 24/7, and the speed with which we can access that information. He seemed to marvel at the means and speed with which we will be able to access even more information in the future.

No talk of cultivating human relationships. Just acquisition of facts. No talk of how to separate the wheat from the chaff in the huge sea of information. Just more so-called knowledge. Faster.

Quite telling is this fact. On the same dictionary page as futurist, is the term future farmer (a member of Future Farmers of America). If I got to pick a lunch companion...I'd go with the future farmer. I know I'd learn more facts. Only, it'd be a lot more enjoyable!

Kind of like utopia! Right now!

"O God, Beyond All Praising"

Check out today's broadcast of Sing for Joy.
The first hymn, Praise to the Lord, is a very nice choral arrangement. The final hymn, "O God, Beyond All Praising", is a new one to me. It is set to the tune of a movement from Gustav Holst's The Planets, which nearly always brings me to the verge of tears. Go here to listen to the melody and sing along with the words.


"O God Beyond All Praising"

O God beyond all praising,
we worship you today
and sing the love amazing
that songs cannot repay.

Holst grew up in the church pictured above and sang in the choir. (All Saints, Cheltenham, England)

Greenest Convention Ever?

Before I forget...

A day before the Democratic Convention opened here in Colorado a few weeks ago, I heard Denver Mayor Hickenlooper say that the DNC was going to be the Greenest Convention In History.

We heard that the waste was going to be composted. Carbon credits were being sold. Bicycles were provided for convention goers. Etc., etc., etc.

Making a proclamation like this merely shows our ignorance of history. Our ignorance of the excesses of the times we live in. I'd be willing to bet our house that this year's Democratic National Convention used more energy than any other convention ever.

(Photo of American flags taken from the DNC stadium site, all bagged up in garbage bags and sitting by the trash.)

Farmers

I sit in the front yard, hand pulling little weeds. The yard looks nice from the street. You don't notice the weeds unless you're walking by. But here I am, pulling these little buggars before they go to seed. I look up the street, and across the way at the soccer field. Then it hit me. We're all farmers.

This doesn't make me happy. We raise a fairly useless "crop". Grass. Kentucky blue grass, to be specific. In arid Colorado. Doesn't make much sense, does it? We can't eat it. No livestock eats it. The wild bunnies do, but I'm not speaking to them. They ate too much of my garden this summer. Well, I take that back. I do speak to them. I tell them, "You can eat the grass. You can even eat the flowers. Just leave my vegetable garden alone! You see that fence? That means keep out!" That's what I tell them these days. I empathize with Mr. MacGregor. Ole Peter Rabbit doesn't get my sympathy anymore.

But back to the grass thing. I think of all the time and expense we suburbanites spend on keeping the yard looking good enough to keep the neighbors from talking and the city from giving us a citation. Sure, it's fun to walk out there barefoot. But I'd rather put on shoes and walk in a pasture. I'd rather be a useful farmer. A real farmer.

So what I do is plant seeds. Ideas, actually. In our children's heads. Thoughts of living away from the city. Living off your land. Living simply. And then I pray for those seedlings to take root.

Maybe I am a bit of a farmer after all.

Remembering

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.

Proverbs 21:30


There is much to distract us: What to make of Obama's "lipstick on a pig" reference? Should Sarah Palin be running for high office given that she's a Christian and still has children at home? What does the latest Hollywood bimbo du jour say about the Palin pick? Was 9/11 an inside job? Should we even be in Iraq? Football standings. Baseball standings. And on and on to distraction.

This day, we should be praying for the thousands of families who are hurting. They either lost their loved ones on September 11, 2001; or on the battlefields in the years that have followed.

May God comfort those families. May we be ever thankful for our freedoms. And may we be bold in fighting, when necessary, for what's good in America.

"God rules as surely on earth as He does in heaven. He permits, for reasons known only to Himself, people to act contrary to and in defiance of His revealed will. But He never permits them to act contrary to His sovereign will."

Trusting God Jerry Bridges

Pruning

"...every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."
John 15:2b

Pruning controls the shape and appearance of plants. It brings about new growth. It makes the plant stronger. The increased light that reaches the leaves, aides many things. Pruning, done well, improves the size, quantity, and quality of the fruit.

It is also true that remnants of the pruning process can sometimes be nurtured into taking root elsewhere and beginning a new plant. Both the original plant and the new sprout may look a little small and lonely at times, but persistence pays off.

Blessings to Greg and Anna as you take root in new soil.

The Imitation of Christ - Part 1

Our ladies' Bible study has decided to read The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis (c. 1379-1471). Kempis (so named, for his native town of Kempen) was an Augustinian monk. The version I am reading states that his was "...an uneventful life spent in copying manuscripts, reading, and composing, and in the peaceful routine of monastic piety."

The book is arranged into four books, which are then subdivided into very short chapters. My public library version, updated in 1993, lacks the preciseness and beauty of the Gutenberg version I'm reading on line.

For example, the title of Chapter 1 in the modern version is On Following Christ Our Model. The Gutenberg version has translated the title as Of the imitation of Christ, and of contempt of the world and all its vanities.

It may be quicker to read, "It is better to experience contrition than to be able to define it."

But I prefer the poetry of, "I had rather feel contrition than be skilful in the definition thereof."

(This photo I found on line may be the monastery where Kempis lived.)

"All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night"

Here is a hymn from this week's Sing For Joy program. The last piece on today's broadcast, this hymn for Compline is a fitting way to end the day.

(You can access Sing for Joy without silencing my blog music, but if you want to listen to the melody highlighted below, you must silence the blog music.)

All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night

All praise to Thee, my God, this night,
For all the blessings of the light!
Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,
Beneath Thine own almighty wings.

Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son,
The ill that I this day have done,
That with the world, myself, and Thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.

Teach me to live, that I may dread
The grave as little as my bed.
Teach me to die, that so I may
Rise glorious at the judgment day.

O may my soul on Thee repose,
And with sweet sleep mine eyelids close,
Sleep that may me more vigorous make
To serve my God when I awake.

When in the night I sleepless lie,
My soul with heavenly thoughts supply;
Let no ill dreams disturb my rest,
No powers of darkness me molest.

O when shall I, in endless day,
For ever chase dark sleep away,
And hymns divine with angels sing,
All praise to thee, eternal King?

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

(Photo of Canterbury Cathedral, England. Thomas Tallis, composer of the hymn, spent some of his career here.)

Aha Moment

The kids and I were at our home school co-op today, discussing Ancient Egypt in the context of Moses and the Exodus. We've been studying the culture, its polytheism, the oppression of the Israelites, etc. Ancient Egypt was, despite all of its innovations, a big G, Godless place. You tell yourself, wasn't it a good thing that the Israelites finally got out??? And good riddance, too!

But then, I thought... It was that very same land which earlier had sustained Joseph and his brothers and families. It was that very same land to which baby Jesus and His family would flee when Herod killed all the baby boys. This very same oppressive place sheltered our Lord and saved His life.

God can use anything for His purposes, in His time, for His glory, and for our salvation.

"Lift High the Cross"

The last hymn in this week's Sing for Joy broadcast is "Lift High the Cross." If you go towards the end of the broadcast, you'll hear this version sung with organ and brass.

"Lift High the Cross"

Refrain

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.



Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
The hosts of God in conquering ranks combine.

Refrain

Each newborn servant of the Crucified
Bears on the brow the seal of Him Who died.

Refrain

O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
As Thou hast promised, draw the world to Thee.

Refrain

So shall our song of triumph ever be:
Praise to the Crucified for victory.

Refrain

"King of Glory, King of Peace"

I just discovered this hymn at Sing for Joy and have been singing it repeatedly! I can't find this version elsewhere on the internet, but you can go to the Sing for Joy website. This particular hymn is about 2/3 of the way through the program. If you find the blue "knob" that shows how far you've gotten into the show, and push it about 2/3 of the way across, you'll be close to this hymn. It's worth trying to figure it out.

Or, better yet. Just listen to the whole show! Remember to silence my blog music first (down on the righthand side bar).

There's an interesting story about the hymn's author, George Herbert (1593-1632), pictured above. See if you don't agree with me that we should be grateful that the manuscript was saved by his brother.

"King of Glory, King of Peace"

King of glory, King of peace,
I will love Thee;
And that love may never cease,
I will move Thee.
Thou hast granted my request,
Thou hast heard me;
Thou didst note my working breast,
Thou hast spared me.

Wherefore with my utmost art
I will sing Thee,
And the cream of all my heart
I will bring Thee.
Though my sins against me cried,
Thou alone didst clear me;
And alone, when they replied,
Thou didst hear me.

Seven whole days, not one in seven,
I will praise Thee;
In my heart, though not in Heaven,
I can raise Thee.
Small it is, in this poor sort
To enroll Thee:
E’en eternity’s too short
To extol Thee.

"Built on the Rock"

"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord:
Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn;
look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth.
When I called him he was but one, and I blessed him and made him many."

Isaiah 51:1-2

One definition from Webster's for the word hewn is:
to give form or shape to, with, or as if with heavy cutting blows.

Life certainly deals heavy cutting blows. But when you acknowledge that it is He who is forming and shaping you, it doesn't seem so difficult to withstand. It is all in His time and for His glory.

Here is a hymn to prepare yourself for the coming Sabbath, based upon one of this week's scripture readings.

Built on the Rock

Built on the Rock the church doth stand,
Even when steeples are falling;
Crumbled have spires in every land,
Bells still are chiming and calling;
Calling the young and old to rest,
But above all the soul distressed,
Longing for rest everlasting.

Surely in temples made with hands,
God, the Most High, is not dwelling;
High above earth His temple stands,
All earthly temples excelling;
Yet He whom heavens cannot contain
Chose to abide on earth with men,
Built in our bodies His temple.

We are God’s house of living stones,
Builded for His habitation;
He through baptismal grace us owns,
Heirs of His wondrous salvation;
Were we but two His Name to tell,
Yet He would deign with us to dwell,
With all His grace and His favor.

Go here to read all of the verses and hear the music. (Please silence the blog music first.)

"Dear Lord and Father of Mankind"

After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still small voice.
I Kings 19:12

The American poet, John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892), wrote the words to this hymn as part of a longer poem. Sunday's Old Testament reading from I Kings was part of his inspiration.


Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm.

Go here to see the text of all of the verses.

And be sure to go here to see this hymn sung by the Westminster Abbey choir and congregation. (Remember to first silence the blog music at the sidebar on the right.)

The music in this version of the hymn was written by British composer C. Hubert Parry (1848-1918). The photo is of Westminster Abbey.

I played in an orchestra last week for Debbie Reynolds. She had a good rapport with the audience and they really enjoyed the show. She talked about how her first husband left her (with two young children) for Elizabeth Taylor, and her second and third husbands left her in great financial difficulty. Yet, she laughed about it, and using her self-deprecating humor, she got the audience to laugh along with her.

I took a gander at her website when I got home, and found this quote:

This writer acknowledges there was no intent to mention all of Debbie's starring roles, or her myriad of awards. The foregoing is rather the story of a woman whose solution to adversity is not to merely survive, but to constantly revive, renew, and live life to the maximum.

This isn't the gospel according to Debbie Reynolds. She didn't give any clues that she is a believer. But, since we don't seem to be able to pass through this world without being embraced by adversity, the quote got me to thinking. I agree that we should do more than merely survive. We must rely on the Lord for everything and rejoice for His sustenance. Today I feel like that sums up a Christian walk.

My New Career.....Midwife

If you have ever taken the time to look at the blogs I link on the right hand sidebar, you will notice that most of them are written by Christian agrarians. Believers who are making their living off their own land, using their own hands. When I first started writing in this little corner of blogdom, I hadn't stumbled upon these blogs just yet. But I have been, for a long time, a suburban gal who wished she lived in the country or a little town.

I don't even remember how I first found these blogs, but one led to another which led to another. I now regularly peruse Scott's blog in upstate New York, I find others through his links, I read Northern Farmer whose writing reminds me so much of our cattle rancher friend here in Colorado, I read what the faithful saints are doing in Missouri, others in central Texas, a family in Canada, a family in Idaho, and a mama in Tennessee with her three boys.

It was the family in Tennessee who asked for ideas for a new name for their farm. I submitted an idea, and with some tweaking, they used it! Me, who has never given birth, has now helped birth a new name for an entire farm! Now, how cool is that?! My grandfather would have been proud!

(I stole this picture from the Tennessee Farmgirl blog. It's of her three boys after a hard day's work.)