song and verse

(poor quality, shot with camera phone...)

a bit of the song from son #2



a bit of the verse from son #2




(posted for grandparents)

Fine Arts Night

I am not sure I really understand "creative movement" class, but I am sure the grandmas will want to see this video.

Chapman Update

[From the Tennessean]

Just feet away from her sister Maria's tiny white coffin, Shaohannah Chapman stood with her parents and listened as her daddy read a letter she wrote.

It was addressed to two people up above: her sister and Jesus.

"Maria's stuffed animals are going to be packed away and put into the attic," Steven Curtis Chapman, a well-known Christian singer/songwriter, read in a steady voice that sometimes trailed off into a whisper.

"Enjoy heaven," he continued, addressing some 2,000 mourners Saturday at his 5-year-old daughter's funeral at Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville.

"I will see you soon, but not too soon. I hear the roads are made of solid gold and God waits for everyone. When you see that I'm coming, wait for me at the gate," he continued as Maria's pictures — smiling in huge sunglasses or sitting next to her birthday cake — flashed on two screens behind him.

'Snuggle bunny' loved to draw

Shaohannah's was one of many tributes to Maria, a little girl described by her parents, siblings and friends as a "snuggle bunny" who loved to run around naked, draw flowers and play princesses.

She died Wednesday evening after what authorities called a "terrible accident." One of Chapman's two teenage sons was backing down the family's driveway in a truck. He didn't see the child in the driveway and struck her. She was pronounced dead later that day at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.

The little girl was one of Chapman's three adopted daughters from China and joined the family in 2004. Chapman and his wife, Mary Beth, also have three biological children. They were celebrating the recent engagement of their eldest daughter, Emily.

Boy's plight remembered

The Saturday service, sometimes pierced by spontaneous laughter from the pews caused by funny Maria stories, also served as a reminder that another life, that of the teenage boy who drove the truck, has been shattered.

"I haven't always been a good brother," one of the Chapman boys said. "Just like my dad helped Maria, I hope I help my brother. … (God) healed Maria in a way we don't like, but he's going to heal (my brother) in a way we're going to like."

Those in the sanctuary got up and applauded.

And then Chapman recalled how he tried to fight for his little girl in the hospital, how he told the doctors he needed to pray, he needed to save her.

"That's what you do as a dad," he said, his voice breaking up. And how he asked God for a sign to know that his daughter was OK, and the frustration when it didn't come. Not right away, he said. And then he found a card Maria painted but never finished. When he turned it around, it read "see."

"I heard her little voice and the voice of God," he said. "She said: 'See, dad, it's OK.' "

I don't know why this story has gripped me so much. Maybe it is because I have children, maybe it is because I have thought of death more these past few months and tarried on the edge of the fear of it, maybe it is because the Chapmans seem like such a normal family... I don't know why it has grabbed my attention, but I have to say that I am so thankful for a Savior who has defeated death, but who also showed his own sorrow over it while he walked this earth.

More Chapman Information

I would like to direct you to Rodney Olsen's blog. He has a great write-up concerning the Chapman family.

Also check here.

Miracle of the Moment

It’s time for letting go
All of our “if onlys”
‘Cause we don’t have a time machine

And even if we did
Would we really want to use it
Would we really want to go change everything

‘Cause we are who and where and what we are for now
And this is the only moment we can do anything about

So breathe it in and breathe it out
And listen to your heartbeat
There’s a wonder in the here and now
It’s right there in front of you
And I don’t want you to miss the miracle of the moment

There’s only One who knows
What’s really out there waiting
And all the moments yet to be
And all we need to know
Is He’s out there waiting
To Him the future’s history

And He has given us a treasure called right now
And this is the only moment we can do anything about

So breathe it in and breathe it out
And listen to your heartbeat
There’s a wonder in the here and now
It’s right there in front of you
And I don’t want you to miss the miracle of the moment

And if it brings you tears
Then taste them as they fall
Let them soften your heart

And if it brings you laughter
Then throw your head back
And let it go
Let it go, yeah
You gotta let it go

And listen to your heartbeat

And breathe it in and breathe it out
And listen to your heartbeat
There’s a wonder in the here and now
It’s right there in front of you
And I don’t want you to miss the miracle of the moment

And breathe it in and breathe it out
And listen to your heartbeat
There’s a wonder in the here and now
It’s right there in front of you
And I don’t want you to miss the miracle of the moment

Steven Curtis Chapman

[HT: MM]

"Cinderella"

She spins and she sways to whatever song plays,
Without a care in the world.
And I’m sittin’ here wearin’ the weight of the world on my shoulders.
It’s been a long day and there’s still work to do,
She’s pulling at me saying “Dad I need you!
There’s a ball at the castle and I’ve been invited and I need to practice my dancin’
“Oh please, daddy, please!”

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
‘Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don’t wanna miss even one song,
Cuz all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she’ll be gone

She says he’s a nice guy and I’d be impressed
She wants to know if I’d approve of a dress
She says “Dad, the prom is just one week away,
And I need to practice my dancin’”
“Oh please, daddy, please!”

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
‘Cause I know something the prince never knew
Ohh-oh ohh-oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don’t wanna miss even one song,
‘Cuz all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she’ll be gone
She will be gone.

Well, she came home today
With a ring on her hand
Just glowin’ and tellin’ us all they had planned
She says “Dad, the wedding’s due six months away
And I need to practice my dancin’
“Oh please, daddy please!”

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
‘Cause I know something the prince never knew
Ohh-oh ohh-oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don’t wanna miss even one song,
(even one song)
Cuz all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she’ll be gone

Here is the acoustic version of that song.


[HT: MM]

I also found these two videos over on this blog. These two videos seemed very fitting:

The Chapman Family

I know that I am not the first to mention this, please pray for the Chapman Family. My wife and I have been thinking about them and praying for them all day. My heart especially goes out to the son.

If you haven't read yet, please stop by StevenCurtisChapman.com to read what happened. I would also like to suggest that you stop by the blog, In Memory of Maria, as well. Here is a video from that site.

The Enjoyment of God

The enjoyment of God
is the only happiness
with which our souls can be satisfied.
To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God,
is infinitely better
than the most pleasant accommodations here.
[These] are but shadows;
but God is the substance.
These are but scattered beams;
but God is the sun.
These are but streams;
but God is the ocean.
Edwards

Prayer in Schools

This was a gift from a student, I thought I would pass it along to you.

New Site

Our school has its new site up and running!

I can't tell you what a relief this is. The old one was embarrassingly out of date. We didn't want to send people to the site because it didn't represent our school very well.

The new one is much better, and I added it here so that a few people might click on it to help boost our Google rating...

So... Click on it already.

Thanks!

The New Blockquote Code

Here is the code for my all new chalkboard looking <blockquote>!

(Of course this is through Blogger...)


.post blockquote {
margin:1em 20px;
border: solid 4px #D2691E;
padding: 10px;
color: #FFFFFF;
font-family: 'Bradley Hand ITC';
font-size: 1.5em;
border-style: inset;
background: url(http://www.harmlessonline.net-a.googlepages.com/chalkboard2.JPG);
}


(I also had to re-teach myself how to show code in a post.)

Worship

Now that I have my <blockquote> fixed, I want to share a good quote with you.

"I can safely say, on the authority of all that is revealed in the Word of God, that any man or woman on this earth who is bored and turned off by worship is not ready for heaven."
~A.W. Tozer~

I love A. W. Tozer's quotes.

I pulled this one off of the wall in my room. I have printed out quotes and stuck them all over my room. Most of the time they don't get noticed, but every once in awhile I will see a student browsing my quotes.

I have found this particular one to be particularly confrontational. It is sort of in-your-face. Especially if you are one who isn't so fond of your church's worship services. (I know there are other issues to be dealt with in different church situations, but the principle is true none the less...)

New Blockquote Style

I am going to try out a new blockquote style. I don't really know what I am doing, so ignore this post.

Here is my blockquote. I hope it is ok... I am not really sure what to type for my practice blockquote, but maybe I should throw in some Lorem Ipsum...

Well, there it is.

The Way of the Cross

My wife and I will use this phrase from time to time, "The Way of the Cross..." We will use it in sentences like, "The best way to go is the way of the cross..." or "I have just decided that I am going to go the way of the cross..."

But what are we really saying?

We asked ourselves this question the other day when things weren't turning out quite right in a situation. Was this way of the cross really what we were hoping it would be? Now that we are thinking about it, did the way of the cross end up all that well?

We know that ultimately it does, but what about in the here and now? Doesn't the way of the cross lead to ... a ... well to a cross? Isn't there a certain amount of sacrifice and death associated with His way? Maybe that is why Jesus said, "...take up your cross daily, die to self, and follow me..."

Well, this isn't meant to be a long drawn out post, full of in-depth explanations, so I will get right to it:

Following after Jesus, and doing things His way doesn't always look so pretty and so spiritual. Sometimes it is messy and challenging and sometimes there is a cross there. A cross where you have to die. Loving your enemies requires a little bit of that kind of death. So does showing joy in trials and reigning in your tongue and choosing to overcome your fear with love and working hard as if you were working for the Lord and being meek and humble and...

But. But there is not other way.

And in the end... What a wonderful way it truly is.

Running on Dunkin

Have you seen this Dunkin Commercial?

Good Listening

I just bought Keith Green the live experience CD/DVD Combo.

I went into the store to buy my wife a CD for Mother's day. While I was back browsing the CD's I noticed this one out of the corner of my eye. I am recommending it because I absolutely love it.

I have always loved Keith Green. And even though I didn't start listening to him until after he had died, he was still a major influence in my life. His music opened my eyes to a much different perspective of Christianity than I was completely familiar with. His message is still impacting me.

So, I heartily recommend this CD and DVD. Especially if you are already a Keith Green fan, you will really enjoy this. There should be some clips on the right hand column of this blog. If there aren't, please drop me an e-mail.

Eager Expectation

The first dog I can remember was named Smokey. I am not sure what happened to Smokey. He simply faded out of my most ancient memories. I don't recall anything specific about him, other than the fact that I owned him and now I don't.

The second dog I owned was named Smokey (Or Smokey II, if you will...). He ran away more times than I can remember, but always came back. At least he came back everytime but the last time. The last time he got away was the last I ever saw him.

The third dog I owned was named Norman. I picked him out of the pound, all on my own, while my parents were away on vacation. More than once a day he would knock over my little sisters and make them cry. Then he chewed a piece of siding off of the garage and made my dad cry. (Actually, he didn't really cry. It was sort of like a pot of water coming to a boil.) We got rid of Norman, which is a funny story on its own, but I don't have time for it here.

The fourth dog was named Sophie. I am not going to lie to you, I loved Sophie. She was a good dog. She was run over by a Ford Explorer (front and back tire) and survived. She taught me about loyalty, despite treatment, she gave me great practice with parenting, and she showed me that I had an anger problem. We had to give her up because of our busy schedules.

The final dog came by way of a Christmas present to our children, and a friend of my wife's. His name is Milo, and I have to say that that I have grown fond of this dog, though I swore I would get attached. What is more important, and what has inspired this post, is the dog's fondness to me.

To be sure, he will eagerly await all of us to arrive home at the end of the work day, but once I arrive, he becomes my shadow. He will follow me room to room and find comfortable spots that are as near to me as I will allow. The picture shown at the top of this post is a picture taken when I was gone on my trip to Charleston. My wife sent it to me, telling me that is how he had been sitting throughout the night.

I am not putting too much into the thoughts and sentimentalities of dogs, but I have to say that it paints a great mental image to our own eager expectations of Christ's return. Do you sit at the window, anxiously awaiting Him? Is the one thing you want, to sit at His feet? Are you yearning to be His shadow?

He which testifieth these things saith, "Surely I come quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Rev 22:20 (KJV)

What Would a Mom Say?

I saw this on TV somewhere. Then I heard it on the radio the other day, but Greg Adkins found it on YouTube.



[ht: Greg Adkins]

Some recommendations...

Here are a few web sites that I use regularly, that you may or may not have heard of.

Remember the Milk

Remember the Milk is great for those of you who like the to-do lists and also like quippy little names for websites.

It is a great organizer and it also coordinates with your Gmail and Google Galendar. There is also an offline feature that comes in handy. I highly recommend this site.

Jott

Jott is awesome. I cannot tell you just how awesome it is. It is a phone service where you can call in and it will transcribe your voice into text, but that isn't even the half of it.

You can also send jotts. I can call and it will send a text message to my wife.

OR... I can call and send a jott to myself. It will send me an e-mail of my words. But before you hang up, it will ask you if you want a reminder. If you say yes, then you can pick the date and time for that reminder. It will then send you a text message at that time. Cool.

Jott also coordinates with services like Google Calendar, Remember the Milk, and Blogger, just to name a few.

Grand Central

Grand Central was purchased by Google last year. I guess they aren't taking any new users right now, which is too bad, because it is really cool.

It is one phone number for all of your phone numbers. If you call my Grand Central number, it will ring all of my phones. If you are one of my contacts, you will get a personalized voice mail message and maybe even a personalized ring. All of my voice mails through Grand Central will go to my Gmail inbox.

Check out some other features of Grand Central.

give them an inch...

 
While on a field trip, you must maintain control of students at all time. This is an absolute imperative. Control must be maintained!

Losing this control can be dangerous for the students and also for the teachers. This is why you cannot give them an inch. If you give them an inch, they will take a mile. And you might end up in a situation like this...