Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

This is a formal announcement that during the next five months, I will not be posting on this blog. Have a great summer, fall, and winter!

~Jacob Bernhardt

"Blessed the Man Whose Strength Is In Thee"

"Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God."

Psalm 84:5-7

Matthew Henry comments on Psalm 84:1-7:
The ordinances of God are the believer's solace in this evil world; in them he enjoys the presence of the living God: this causes him to regret his absence from them. They are to his soul as the nest to the bird. Yet they are only an earnest of the happiness of heaven; but how can men desire to enter that holy habitation, who complain of Divine ordinances as wearisome? Those are truly happy, who go forth, and go on in the exercise of religion, in the strength of the grace of Jesus Christ, from whom all our sufficiency is. The pilgrims to the heavenly city may have to pass through many a valley of weeping, and many a thirsty desert; but wells of salvation shall be opened for them, and consolations sent for their support. Those that press forward in their Christian course, shall find God add grace to their graces. And those who grow in grace, shall be perfect in glory.

Plantation Proverbs

Today is the birthday of Joel Chandler Harris, the creator of the Uncle Remus Stories and the beloved Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, and Br'er Bear. Though Harris is now obscure as an author, luminaries of the past such as Theodore Roosevelt and Mark Twain read the Uncle Remus stories to their enthusiastic children.

http://www.uncleremus.com/ has done a fair job of seeking to restore interest in Harris and his famous stories. Below are some "Plantation Proverbs" I enjoyed today.

[Harris worked on the Turnwold plantation as a newspaper apprentice during his early teenage years. UncleRemus.com relates: "At Turnwold, Harris began his lifelong friendship with animals and with the plantation Negroes, whose folklore would later fill his writings. Fortunately, the youngster was associated with such aged and colorful slaves as 'Uncle' George Terrell and 'Uncle' Bob Capers. They had a gift for story-telling which Harris was later able to capture."]

BIG ’possum clime little tree.
Dem w’at eats kin say grace.
Ole man Know-All died las’ year.
Better de gravy dan no grease ’tall.
Dram ain’t good twel you git it.
Lazy fokes’ stummucks don’t git tired.
Rheumatiz don’t he’p at de log-rollin’.
Mole don’t see w’at his naber doin’.
Save de pacin’ mar’ fer Sunday.
Don’t rain eve’y time de pig squeal.
Crow en corn can’t grow in de same fier.
Tattlin’ ’oman can’t make de bread rise.
Rails split ’fo’ bre’kfus’ ll season de dinner.
Dem w’at knows too much sleeps under de ash-hopper.
Ef you wanter see yo’ owil sins, clean up a new groun’.
Hog dunner w’ich part un ’ilnil season de turnip salad.
Hit’s a blessin’ de w’ite sow don’t shake de plum-tree.
Winter grape sour, whedder you kin reach ’im or not.
Mighty po’ bee dat don’t make mo’ honey dan he want.
Kwishins on mule’s foots done gone out er fashun.
Pigs dunno w’at a pen’s fer.
Possum’s tail good as a paw.
Dogs don’t bite at de front gate.
Colt in de barley-patch kick high.
Jay-bird don’t rob his own nes’.
Pullet can’t roost too high for de owl.
Meat fried ’fo’ day won’t las’ twel night.
Stump water won’t kyo de gripes.
De howlin’ dog know w’at he sees.
Bline hoss don’t fall w’en he follers de bit.
Hongry nigger won’t w’ar his maul out.
Don’t fling away de empty wallet.
Black-snake know de way ter de hin nes’.
Looks won’t do ter split rails wid.
Settin’ hens don’t hanker arter fresh aigs.
Tater-vine growin’ w’ile you sleep.
Hit take two birds fer to make a nes’.
Ef you bleedzd ter eat dirt, eat clean dirt.
Tarrypin walk fast ’nuff fer to go visitin’.
Empty smoke-house makes de pullet holler.
W’en coon take water he fixin’ fer ter fight.
Corn makes mo’ at de mill dan it does in de crib.
Good luck say: “Op’n yo’ mouf en shet yo’ eyes.”
Nigger dat gets hurt wukkin oughter show de skyars.
Fiddlin’ nigger say hit’s long ways ter de dance.
Rooster makes mo’ racket dan de hin w’at lay de aig.
Meller mush-million hollers at you fum over de fence.
Nigger wid a pocket-han’kcher better be looked atter.
Rain-crow don’t sing no chune, but youk’n ’pen’ on Im.
One-eyed mule can’t be handled on de bline side.
Moon may shine, but a lightered knot’s mighty handy.
Licker talks mighty loud w’en it git loose fum de jug.
De proudness un a man don’t count w’en his head’s cold.
Hongry rooster don’t cackle w’en he fine a wum.
Some niggers mighty smart, but dey can’t drive de pidgins ter roos’.
You may know de way, but better keep yo’ eyes on de seven stairs.
All de buzzards in de settlement ’ll come to de gray mule’s funeri.
Youk’n hide de fier, but w’at you gwine do wid de smoke?
Ter-morrow may be de car-ridge-driver’s day for ploughin’.
Hit’s a mighty deaf nigger dat don’t year de dinner-ho’n.
Hit takes a bee fer ter git de sweetness out’n de hoar-houn’ blossom.
Ha’nts don’t bodder longer hones’ folks, but you better go ’roun’ de grave-yard.
De pig dat runs off wid de year er corn gits little mo’ dan decob.
Sleepin’ in de fence-cornder don’t fetch Chrismus in de kitchen.
De spring-house may freeze, but de niggers ’ll keep de shuck-pen warm.
’Twix’ de bug en de bee-martin ’tain’t hard ter tell w’ich gwineter git kotch.
Don’t ’sput wid de squinch-owl. Jam de shovel in de fier.
You’d see mo’ er de mink ef he know’d whar de yard dog sleeps.
Troubles is seasonin’, ’simmons ain’t good twel dey ’er fros’-bit.
Watch out w’en you’er gittin all you want. Fattenin’ hogs ain’t in luck.

Industry and Generosity

Much to my delight, Josiah has taken a keen interest in woodworking - he's got his own business: "Jigsaw Josiah." :-) He enjoys making things for others, and decided to create a special gift for Joy.

Little Miss Smiles.

"WHAT is it?" (Actually I was informed later that she actually knew what it was, and was acting surprised. :-)

Joy: "It's a HEATER?"

\

Joy excitedly pulls out her new cradle (!) while Josiah humbly looks on. :-)

My Sister's Homemade Pizza

It's incredible to me how easily Jess can throw together an amazingly tasty, gourmet-style dinner. Take the pizza dough, for example. I'd probably be sitting there three hours later with a flop to clean up, but she whips it up in no time. Perfect brownness to the cheese - I mean everything's amazing. And to top it all off, she made the pizza while making chicken noodle soup with homemade noodles for tomorrow's church fellowship meal. I have an amazing sis! Thanks, Jess, for all you do.

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (I Corinthians 10:31).

"steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (I Corinthians 15:58).

A Precious Book

While comfortably reading on the sofa last night, I heard the familiar sound of the bed squeaking upstairs, indicating that pre-sleep children's storytime has come.

Then I hear Dad proclaim the opening words: "YO HO!" and I grin, knowing that the kids have chosen "A Tale of Two Princes," by the German author Eckart Zur Nieden (illustrated by Gisela Scheer, English text adapted by Mack Thomas).

Jess and I grew up with this book that overflows with colorful, intriguing pictures and the glorious message of redemption. Thanks, Davis Family, for this gift to us in 1994! A Tale of Two Princes is an analogy that teaches valuable lessons about man's states before and after the fall, the wicked insanity of sin, and the ultimate triumph of the Seed of the woman over the seed of the Serpent. Highly recommended for younger children (though I at 22 years of age could still sit for hours just looking at the illustrations!).

From The Christian Almanac: 1916

"The most lopsided game of intercollegiate football occurred on this day in Atlanta, Georgia, when Georgia Tech humiliated Cumberland University with a score of 222-0."

No Blood, No Altar Now

No blood, no altar now, The sacrifice is o'er!

No flame, no smoke ascends on high, The lamb is slain no more,

But richer blood has flowed from nobler veins,

To purge the soul from guilt, and cleanse the reddest stains.

We thank Thee for the blood, The blood of Christ, Thy Son:

The blood by which our peace is made, Our victory is won:

Great victory o'er hell, and sin, and woe,

That needs no second fight, and leaves no second foe.

We thank Thee for the grace, Descending from above,

That overflows our widest guilt, The eternal Father's love.

Love of the Father's everlasting Son,

Love of the Holy Ghost, Jehovah, Three in One.

We thank Thee for the hope, So glad, and sure, and clear;

It holds the drooping spirit up Till the long dawn appear;

Fair hope! with what a sunshine does it cheer

Our roughest path on earth, our dreariest desert here.

We thank Thee for the crown Of glory and of life;

'Tis no poor with'ring wreath of earth, Man's prize in mortal strife;

'Tis incorruptible as is the throne,

The kingdom of our God and His incarnate Son.

Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)

[Um...What Title Would You Suggest?]

Consider the following an impressionistic portrait of the last fifty-one days of the Eccentric Musician's existence. No exquisite detail here, simply canvas sketches.

To begin, oh where to begin? THAT is the question.

The 8th and 9th of August saw me traveling to Western Illinois with the Harvard Bible Church Music Director and his family. Because their oldest son is in Iraq, they were looking for someone to form a men's quartet with. The whole family sang at the Le-Aqua-Na State Park and then at Lena Baptist Church the next day. Sang a lot. Ate way too much. Played some games. Made new little friends.

The 15th of August saw the culmination of work with NICYO during the summer - their first summer concert! Fabulous experience. Hard-working students. Industrious families. Glorious music. Enriching relationships.

The 22nd of August was a milestone on the Bernhardt calendar - the marriage of our Grandmother to Mr. John Levander! During the emotionally overwhelming processional I nearly lost it crying - which is dangerous when you're the organist PLAYING the processional. Beautiful times. Relatives visiting. LATE milking schedule. :-) Lots of food.

Since the wedding, my chief focus has been to keep going with my studies. Some GREAT books and WONDERFUL lectures.

It has occurred to me that if I post more often, you will receive more detailed accounts of my daily life. Extra visual stimulation would prevent your remaining in the dark concerning my consecutive accomplishments. Rich detail would replace vague meandering. Unfortunately, I am afraid that my blog readers ought not check the blog more than once a week from now on (probably on the seventh day of the week). Come back next week for more!

~JtB

HEADLINE: ECCENTRIC MUSICIAN SHAVES MUSTACHE

Harvard -- It is rumored that, due to unanimous familial thumbs-down and a clostrophobic upper lip, the Eccentric Musician's three-week whisker accumulation has succumbed to the mortal razor. Although investigations are still under way, it is believed that unintentional, successful eschewal of cameras on Mr. Eccentric Musician's part has left FHI (Facial Hair Investigators, LLC) without publicity photographs.

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)

No More Night

"And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God...And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign forever and ever"

(Revelation 21:10; 22:5).

As I seek to live now in the realization of this future glory, I am inspired to sing with the hymnwriter Frances Havergal,

"Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise."

Snippets from Proverbs 3

"Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

"Honor the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine."

"Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding . . . Her [Wisdom's] ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

"Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

"Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

"Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous."

Bernhardt Family Happenings

I shall begin by giving reasons for my blogospherial silence over the last several weeks.

1. A violin recital extracted much practice and preparation from various Bernhardts.

2. Our family hi-tailed it out of Illinois for a week.

3. Plans and auditions have been under way for this "very exciting" development.

4. A violin-piano concert in early June is being prepared for.

I shall now expound and explanify on Reason #2.

Last fall, we received the happy news that our cousin was engaged to be married! He and his fiancee had planned their wedding for Memorial Day weekend 2009. To make a long story shorter, when the Georgia Bernhardts visited the Illinois Bernhardts a few years ago, Stephanie "fell in love" with Josiah and Joy, and later requested them to be ringbearer and flowergirl in their wedding. So, Memorial Day weekend found us celebrating, visiting, talking, laughing, playing games, eating a lot, and just enjoying being together with Dad's entire immediate family. There were 15 people staying in the same house, all with the last name Bernhardt! As you can imagine, that only happens once in a blue moon! We had a wonderful time on the road and with family, and simply relaxing and enjoying a vacation.

The happy couple at the rehearsal dinner.

Our other cousin and his fiancee.

Joy did very well at the wedding, and succeeded in charming the entire wedding party!

Together.

The night before we left, we enjoyed some singing with Brian on the guitar.

On the way home, we swung by the Answers in Genesis Creation Museum in Kentucky. What a spectacular presentation of the gospel! The pictures we took inside didn't turn out very well, so you'll just have to visit the museum to see what it looks like. :)

The grounds are absolutely beautiful.

This picture reminded me of a verse of Scripture:

"But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream." Amos 5:24