The River Church of New Jersey

I've been a bit on vacation mode lately so haven't had time to post in awhile. 

so, this will be a bit of a "mixed bag" post of things.

*First...update on the Chapman family. I happened to see a news article on People magazine: http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20202406,00.html

about the funeral. What was most moving to me was that they were able to look at the tragic event in a way that was not totally dark or hopeless. I hope that that was intriguing to nonchristians who may have read about it. Something like this would devastate most people and tear families apart. It's a testament to their faith that they were strong and able to celebrate her joyful life, as well.

 *I've also been really into Praise lately. I love our praise time during worship--the songs and the leading are just wonderful. I remember the old days at the Holiday Inn when it was just Tommy Z and Dan playing keyboard. For many sundays I yearned for a full praise band and loud singing. God really answers prayers beyond what we can imagine. Recently, I've wanted to sing the song "You are holy" but I didnt' know the name of it. I just knew how to describe it--it has a very unique arrangement. But, I never approached John about it. Low and behold, last sunday he introduced it as a new song. My heart leapt for joy! Thanks, God, again for answering prayer and putting that song in my heart...and finally on our lips. Once everyone gets the hang of it, it is really beautiful when the mens and womens parts are sung at the same time. Though we are singing different words, they somehow fit perfectly together.

*Jason and I have been meeting at church earlier on Sunday around 9:45am for "heart preparation." I often feel too rushed and distracted on sunday mornings to really worship. This time has been great for me to center myself--leaving the worldly distractions behind and enter into the holy place of worship. It just makes worship feel more special somehow. We welcome anyone who has the same desire to join us.

*The New York Times had an interesting article called "For English Studies, Koreans say Goodbye to Dad." http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/world/asia/08geese.html  I just love these kinds of sociological insights into a culture--and this happens to be my own! This part was especially eye opening:

"Conservatives have criticized the wild geese mothers for being obsessed about their children’s education at the risk of destroying their marriages. The women’s real intention, they say, is to get as far away as possible from their mothers-in-law. (haha, that was funny--wonder if that is serious???)

The mothers say they are the modern-day successors to one of the most famous mothers in East Asia: the mother of Mencius, the fourth-century Chinese Confucian philosopher. In a story known in South Korea, as well as China and Japan, Mencius’s mother moved to three neighborhoods before finding the environment most favorable to her son’s education.

“I don’t know why Mencius’s mother is so revered and why we wild geese mothers are so criticized,” said Chang Soo-jin, 37, who moved here with her two children nearly two years ago. “Our coming out here is exactly the same as what she did.” 

This explained a lot to me about what drives asians to move to "favorable environments" for our children's education. If it wasn't plain enough--here I learned that there are Confucian values at the core. In the article it is surprising to the reporter that these mothers would sacrifice their marriages for their children. But what is the real sacrifice here? I often think of this saying, "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." It's a worldly sentiment, but it is true in many ways. It convicted me to guard my heart even more against the idols of children and education. This article helped me put it in a historical and sociological framework.  

*in my search for praise songs...I came upon this awesome acoustical of How Great is our God by Chris Tomlin. 

And this is my favorite song right now...I remember Johnny introduced us to it: The Wonderful Cross.

check out part one and two:

I can hear that song over and over again. How beautiful that hymn is in both lyrics and melody. Does the Cross do that to you? Bid you come and die and find that you may truly live? It certainly makes me want to pour contempt on all my pride.

(I love how Chris Tomlin looks like the sound check guy...so unassuming but out comes this amazing voice. Can you tell I'm a fan? :) I hope it blesses you. 

And I pray that God puts beautiful songs in your heart this week.  

 Love,

M