The Power of the Cross

While we are rejoicing and mourning simultaneously over news that isn't ready for the public exposure of the blogosphere, we take heart in the following contemporary hymn, new to us though it is about two years old, by Stuart Townend, who has become our favorite hymn writer.

The Power of the Cross

Oh, the see the dawn, of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men, torn and beaten, then,
Nailed to a cross of wood.

(Chorus)
This, the power of the cross:
Christ became sin for us.
Took the blame, bore the wrath -
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain, written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Every bitter thought, every evil deed,
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

(Chorus)

Now the daylight flees,
now the ground beneath,
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two, Dead are raised to life;
'Finished!' the victory cry.

(Chorus)

Oh, to see my name, written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death, life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

(Chorus)
This, the power of the cross:
Son of God - slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.


Julie taught this to us after learning it at an IV leadership meeting. We found and downloaded the music (for a small fee) at freehandmusic.com (if I am reading Chuck's handwriting correctly). This, like other Townend hymns, we predict, will still be sung generations from now.

Past, Present and Future

You know that ancient mathematician I featured a couple of blogs back? Well, he's decided that the time has come for him to hang up his square root tool (did they have such things 300 years ago?) and announce his retirement. About time, wouldn't you think? Anyhow, so that the math/computer science department can have enough time to plan (a c.s. fellow is retiring as well in May 08), he let the college know yesterday of his intentions to teach one more school year. And in the meantime, we will revel in the present Wooster traditions, friends, colleagues and special events while being grateful to God for so many wonderful years here, so many students to love and lead, as well as begin thinking about our transition to Grand Rapids in late spring next year. He still has lots of teaching left in him (as well as a few golf games), so he hopes to adjunct at any of several colleges in the area (I think he knows a Hope professor quite well :)) for a few more years and he is kicking around some ideas for meaningful volunteering.

Promises, Promises

I had promised Emily that I would upload some pictures once I had figured out how to do so. That day has arrived, so here they are: the tulips for Aunt Ruth's friends and Karen with her Friendship mentor.

If at first you don't succeed...

try, try again. Thanks to J, who turned the picture, so the Euler is now correctly positioned to follow the path of his calling, you can see him a bit better. If you are wondering what that strange, ill-fitting rag on his head is, be assured that it is a turban (pre-wrapped for quick costume changes in the theatre). Evidently people of Euler's age and social position were intrigued by all things Indian and so imitated Indian dress. The trouble with our contemporary Euler is that his head is too stuffed with math facts and he's never worn an ordinary hat size. Therefore, the turban was too small to fit as well.

The Big One, The Big Three Hundred

On Sunday Chuck and I were invited, as the only non-family, to the first birthday party of a little gal who has been pictured here before--the Halloween kitty-cat. She and her mom and dad are in our church small group. We had a lovely time watching her careen from person to person, enjoying all the attention and the gentle "rough housing" her uncles gave her. She obliged her audience by smearing icing all over her face from her individual birthday cake. It was a privilege to share that time with the happy family.

The next day the math department held a celebration of Leonhard Euler's 300th birthday with an extremely funny video called the Great Number Debate: Which is better e or pi? (or something like that...from Williams College). Many folks got their quota of laughter in for a while watching that. Then they dismissed for a pizza and cake party. And who should make an appearance by the honored one himself. (Now, if I can just make the picture uploading function work...I'll try.) He actually made a dress rehearsal appearance at our house the night before (C being the person organizing the festivities and gathering up costumes from the theater department). Then because the college's president was delayed in a meeting--he was to have surprised the crowd--the emeritus prof played the Euler role. Then the pres. showed up, so we had three Eulers total, one for each century. One of the younger profs looked at the pres, the retiree and C together and said, "A group of elderly math professors." Oh, dear. "Wise" is a better adjective, wouldn't you agree?

Drum Roll, Please...

Hope College's newest physics professor is Jenny Hampton!

Friendship

Hello, everyone, after a long pause. Two weeks of spring break, including the week in Denver settling my aunt's estate (or, more accurately, beginning to settle it) and most of a week in Grand Rapids with Karen, and then a week at home getting back into the busyness of work plus the estate work. Yesterday I wrote thank you notes to all of my aunt's dear old friends who had come to the memorial service and sent cards (two more for overseas friends today and I'm finished with that last big project--now it is just as things come in, for me at least; Chuck is going to do her taxes, so that is pretty big too).

One of the realities that struck me most forcefully on the personal (as opposed to the legal or financial) level of Aunt Ruth's death is the value of friendship. Since she had been widowed for over sixty years and never had had children, I was fearful that her last days would be in lonely isolation. Two cousins live in the larger Denver area but one of those is ill herself. However, over the years, she had made many close and dear friends, some neighbors, some as members of the Society of Military Widows, some as colleagues with whom she taught, some as travel and Denver-sports companions. They rallied around her with visits, cards and phone calls. One night I had tried to call her but her line was busy for an hour and a half. Knowing how hard it was for her to breathe, I couldn't imagine that she would be on the phone for that length of time. When I asked her about it the next day, she said, "Oh, Barb, I have many people I could talk an hour and a half to."

Therefore, I made friendship the theme of my remarks at the small but special memorial service we held for her at her hospice, attempting to pay tribute to that room full of about 30 old friends as well as to her as a person who could count on such great people. I looked ath John 15 and Proverbs 27 in particular to talk about how friendship is not just warm fuzzy feelings but sacrificial service (with Jesus then as the greatest friend of all). "Better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away," says Prov. 27. I represented the family "far away," who loved her but were nonetheless far away, and acknowledged her friends' closeness and attentiveness. I called it a circle of blessing--they blessed each other with true friendship and by being people who could count on such friends, that needs to extend outward to a needy world poor in relationships. Then I asked each person to take three or four of the tulips we had bought for the service, so that they could have AR with them a little while longer. Here is a picture of them.

Just before we left, I got a phone call from one of these dear ladies who was mourning yet rejoicing over her tulips. She told me that AR had cross-stitched her a picture of three red tulips and a little saying about friendship, so that night she could see both of them at once (if she removed the one yellow tulip she had taken as well, but I told her to put it in a separate vase for her husband). Then, in her practical way, she said, "Is there going to be a sale of her belongings? I thought about buying her organ...but then I remembered, I can't play the organ." And so I encouraged her to think of AR when she sees the cross-stitch...as can all of us who have some of her lovely handwork in our homes.

We drove from Denver to G.R. and while we were there we went to K's Friendship class--a kind of Sunday School for the mentally handicapped. Her new church hosts about 30 such folk each Thursday night. I want to include a picture of Karen with her mentor from that night. Friendship on another--important--level, and one of the gifts of God.