Monthly Archives: February 2013

7 Quick Takes: Fundraising, English Folk Songs, and Political Grumping

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Kaia’s Kindergarten Fund. We have a fundraiser starting today over at Saving Kaia called Kaia’s Kindergarten Fund. Click on the link for more details.

— 2 —

English folk music. Daniel was banging his snack container in a certain rhythm today and the English folk song “Dashing Away With the Smoothing Iron” came to mind so I looked up the words and sang it to him.

He managed to keep banging in almost perfect rhythm.

— 3 —

Dancers. For those of you who know Elizabeth Esther, her daughter Jewel and her ballet team made it to the finals for the Grand Prix in New York City. The team has to raise $15000 for the housing, fees, and transportation. They’ve currently (as I’m typing this) raised $2640 and they have 22 more days to do this. Can you spare a few bucks?

— 4 —

Lent Madness. I have to say that Lent Madness is amusing me greatly. It’s been enjoyable to see who wins each day. Granted, my bracket is screwed up because Ignatius of Antioch beat Ignatius of Loyola; but the parody account that it spawned is amusing. The post answering criticisms of the SEC (Super Executive Committee) is even well-done. Episcopal Church for the win!

— 5 —

The end of a era. I watched Pope (now Pope Emeritus) Benedict XVI leaving the Vatican today, getting on his helicopter, and saying “good night” to the people at Castel Gadolfo. While I wasn’t amused when he was chosen as Pope (he has a history of calling people like me “heretics” in his pre-papal life), I respected him because of his office and I will admit that I was watching all of this happen this morning completely stunned.

Thank you to Good Day Sacramento for showing all of it without making any snarky remarks and getting a *real* Monsignor to do commentary. Next time, however, please refrain from stalking the bishop while he’s celebrating Mass. 🙂 (They did refrain from actually bringing cameras in and interrupting.)

— 6 —

Fantasy Conclave. I did enter in a guess for Fantasy Conclave though I’ll be *incredibly* surprised if I’m right. There’s also an opportunity for people to adopt a cardinal and pray for them throughout the conclave. For my Protestant readers, it would be a nice thing to do, especially as the choosing of the new Pope affects us ecumenically. I got Cardinal Angelo Scola. Truth be told, I’d rather be praying for Jason Motte (closing pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals) but Cardinal Scola looks interesting.

— 7 —

Politics. If anyone needs suggestions for lay-offs for the sequester, I can think of 535 people to lay off first…

Seriously y’all in DC, I don’t give a rat’s behind who comes up with the best plan — pretend you actually meant all those promises you made about being bipartisan when you ran for election and COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT DOESN’T SCREW OVER THE COUNTRY!!!!!!

*steps off the soapbox*

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

The Proverbs 31 Project: Honor her for all that her hands have done…

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Proverbs 31 Project

Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. — Proverbs 31:31

According to Rachel Held Evans in her book, A Year in Biblical Womanhood, Proverbs 31:10-31 is part of a song the husband sings to his wife on the Shabbat. In doing so, he honors her for the contributions she makes to the household in managing it. (Hevel, please correct me if I’m wrong.) In doing this last entry of the series, I have some people who need to be honored for their contributions.

My thanks goes to:

–Becky for the graphic.

-Priest’s Wife, Jill, Elizabeth, Claire, Christina, Andrea, Kendra, Emily, Jen, Stacy, Jenna, Amanda, and Mandi for guest-posting.

-everyone who has read/commented on this series.

Lent 2013: “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say”

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This is one of my favorite hymns and one where I “collect” recordings of it unintentionally. Michael Card has recorded it, Fernando Ortega has done an instrumental arrangement, and it can be found on a number of hymn CD’s. The tune, “Kingsfold”, is one of my favorites and used for other hymns as well.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto me and rest;
lay down, thou weary one, lay down
thy head upon my breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was,
so weary, worn, and sad;
I found in him a resting place,
and he has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
the living water; thirsty one,
stoop down and drink, and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank
of that life-giving stream;
my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
and now I live in him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“I am this dark world’s light;
look unto me, thy morn shall rise,
and all thy day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found
in him my Star, my Sun;
and in that light of life I’ll walk
till traveling days are done.
(HT: Oremus)

I’m thankful for the British Christian music show “Hymns of Praise” because it’s the source of many wonderful hymns. As this is one of those standards, they had a good YouTube video of it.

Lent 2013: “Near the Cross”

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I’m pretty sure I shared this one last year but it’s one of my favorite Lenten ones (or at least Lutherans sing it during Lent). I love the third and fourth line of the chorus: “Till my raptured soul shall find/Rest beyond the river.” It’s been a tough year health-wise for both Daniel and I, especially last week when we were dealing with his fever and the seizure. I’m sleep-deprived (like I’m ever not?) and I love the idea of my soul getting some rest.

Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calvary??s mountain.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning star
Sheds its beams around me.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadows o??er me.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross I??ll watch and wait
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
(HT: Net Hymnal)

The YouTube video features the Joslin Grove Choral Society. I chose it because it wasn’t twangy which I know is a temptation with this one.

Lent 2013: “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”

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This was one of the hymns that was recommended on Oremus for the lectionary today. It’s fitting given that tomorrow, Lent Madness has Martin Luther going up against Martin Luther King because this is jokingly referred to as the “Lutheran fight song”. The words and music are by Martin Luther. This version is done by Chris Rice.

(I’d write more but my fingers and hands are hurting.)

Lent 2013: “Lord of All Hopefulness”

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This is one of my favorite hymns, especially as it deals with the things we need at various points of our day. It’s not quite putting on the armor of God (Ephesians 6) like “Be Thou My Vision” (the other well-known hymn to this tune) is but it’s beautiful.

Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
Whose trust, ever child-like, no cares could destroy,
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.

Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe,
Be there at our labours, and give us, we pray,
Your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.

Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
Your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,
Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.

Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.

This is an instrumental version but I’m using it because it’s absolutely beautiful.