A Mini-Picnic

We're having a picnic!

Popcorn, lemonade, and "Little House on the Prairie" - what more could a kid ask for? :-)

Jessica has set a great "big sibling" example for me by regularly reading to the younger ones.

Looking at the pictures.

Northern Illinois Christian Youth Orchestra

Pausing for a picture.

Random Picture

Birthday Cards Galore! This year was a record I think - 13! Guess I just get more special every year. :-)

What Is Manhood?

The following poem has always been a favorite of mine. It embodies the essence of manhood as described by our Lord: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). With Christ as our Perfect Example, may we follow after this pattern of manliness. The poem is simply entitled "If":

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

~ Rudyard Kipling

[from Poems for Patriarchs: The Verse and Prose of Christian Manhood. San Antonio, TX: Vision Forum, 2002. Pages 98-99.]

The World of Henty

Over the past few days, I have picked up By Conduct and Courage again. I had started it long ago, but business delayed my reading further until the weekend when I acquired a cold. So I've had more time to sit and read than normal. This historical fiction novel is said to be Henty's last published work. As such, I had requested it on a birthday list of years gone by, presuming that Mr. Henty would want to put important topics into a book he wrote when progressed in years. I have not been disappointed. While Henty's writing style is somewhat aloof or stoic (at least compared with Ballantyne!), his main character, Will Gilmore, is especially motivated by a sense of honor.

While I haven't read the entire book yet, I have sensed the obligation that Gilmore feels toward: (1) Miss Warden (later Mrs. Archer), the womanly daughter of the village parson who assisted and encouraged Gilmore in his early studies. (2) His own family name. His father died as a wandering musician when Will was quite young, and Gilmore is determined to discover his lineage and honor his family name (I'm looking forward to seeing how this progresses). (3) His adopted parents who raised him in the fishing village of Scarcombe. In the middle of the book is a touching scene when Will returns from the navy to surprise his adopted parents by not only his presence, but the news that he will able to provide them with a guinea per week - money that he has earned by his own "conduct and courage." The old folks fervently bless God for providing for them through their adopted son, who has delivered them from their former state of poverty.

Any time I read a Henty novel, I have an inexplicable feeling of entering another world - a world in which honor and duty are taken for granted; a world which embraced God's distinctives between masculinity and femininity, and in which it was therefore considered normal for all men - even young ones - to protect women and children; a world in which the poor and needy are compassionately cared for; in which hard work is honorable and rewarded, and indolent laziness is held in disdain and punished.
In short, when I read Henty, I enter a world in which Christianity prevails. One does not have to look far to realize with sobriety that our society does not embrace these distinctives of Christianity. What has happened? A few short generations after that of Mr. Henty, honor and duty are scorned at, men and women's roles are twisted out of recognition, women are offended when a man opens a door for them, concern for the poor is relegated to the state, and the hard-working citizens are required to support those who will not work.

Young people, it is our mission to restore the world of G. A. Henty. It is our mission to devote our lives to the fundamental principles built upon the gospel of Christ. It is our mission to know what we believe, and then live what we believe.

Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side;
Some great cause, some great decision, off'ring each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever 'twixt that darkness and that light.

Then to side with truth is noble, when we share her wretched crust,
Ere her cause bring fame and profit, and 'tis prosp'rous to be just;
Then it is the brave man chooses while the coward stands aside,
Till the multitude make virtue of the faith they had denied.

Though the cause of evil prosper, yet the truth alone is strong;
Though her portion be the scaffold, and upon the throne be wrong,
Yet that scaffold sways the future, and, behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above His own.
~ James Russel Lowell (1819-1891)

Of Various Things and Sundry

Dear Blog Readers,

I wish to inform you the reason for the lack of picture-posting lately, viz. (1) our desktop is down, (2) therefore, our laptop has become our main computer, (3) I have not figured out how to post pictures using the Adobe software on our laptop! Ahem...

Things are staying very busy for me. I am acquiring several new piano students of varying ages and abilities. Until now I have only worked with beginners. It is precious to invest in the lives of these younger ones (or older beginners too!), but I must say that I have appreciated being able to teach someone who is more advanced. :-) Plans are under way for an autumn recital - and I hope to be able to put together some "one piano, four hands" music (either two students, or myself and a student).

The orchestra which I mentioned in another post has progressed wonderfully, and is now officially named the Northern Illinois Christian Youth Orchestra! The students are attentive and hard-working, and despite the wide pendulum between ages and talents, the Caswell family has very skilfully put together a system of levels. The Festival orchestra includes everybody - even some early beginners who have been given a simplified part. The Jubilee is made up of those in the Festival who can be "pushed" to greater heights musically and technically - of course for some it's a greater challenge than others. Finally, we have put together a Chamber string ensemble of nine players, who are working on harder literature.

I have been thrilled to work with such an outstanding representation of home schooled musicians. From the cute seven-year-old young man playing his little cello to the concertmaster calibur, each is striving for excellence and I am proud of them. For those of you who would like to support this project, NICYO is accepting donations to help offset expenses. The founding directors, Dan and Beth Caswell, may be reached at vb.academy (at) hughes (dot) net. But financial support is not the only way you can encourage these young people. You can come to the concert and hear the fruits of their labors over the summer!

Northern Illinois Christian Youth Orchestra

Summer Concert

Saturday, August 15, 2009 at 7:30

St. John United Church of Christ - Fellowship Hall

1010 S. Park Blvd., Freeport IL

Doors will open around 7:00 - admission is free, but donations will be accepted!

It has been a joy to see the blossoming relationship between our grandmother and our soon-to-be grandpa! They will be married in approximately four weeks! I am so pleased to have another godly, gentlemanly grandpa. Busy times - looking for dresses, preparing music, practicing organ, etc.

A Debtor to Mercy Alone

"A debtor to mercy alone,

Of covenant mercy I sing;

Nor fear, with Thy righteousness on,

My person and off'ring to bring.

The terrors of law and of God

With me can have nothing to do;

My Savior's obedience and blood

Hide all my trangressions from view.

"The work which His goodness began

The arm of His strength will complete;

His promise is yea and amen,

And never was forfeited yet.

Things future, nor things that are now,

Not all things below or above,

Can make Him His purpose forgo,

Or sever my soul from His love.

"My name from the palms of His hands

Eternity will not erase;

Impressed on His heart it remains,

In marks of indelible grace;

Yes, I to the end shall endure,

As sure as the earnest is giv'n;

More happy, but not more secure,

The glorified spirits in heav'n."

Augustus M. Toplady (1740-1778)