Funeral Prayer

Dear Father God,

We thank you for the life of George.

Thank you for the loving family that he was born into. Thank you for sustaining them through the difficult years after his father died. Thank you for the lessons that you taught George about hard work and making do during the difficult years of the depression. Thanks for providing him with a loving wife in Millie, who bought him joy for so many years. Thank you for bringing him home safely after his time of service in the second world war, for blessing him with nine children, for gifting him to be a faithful, kind and loving father and then grandfather, and then great grandfather. We thank you for his sense of humour, his thoughtfulness, and for the long life that you gave him. Most of all we thank you for your love for him and for his faith in you, that found expression in his trustful commitment to his duties, his selfless love for Millie and his family, and his years of service to those outside his family - greeting people at the door of church, putting a seat outside his house so people could sit and rest after walking up the hill, driving the ‘oldies’ around - from Kirra-Haven - even when he himself was well over 70 himself, and for keeping an interest in others right up until the end of his life.

We pray for Ma in her grief. Please comfort her with the knowledge that she will see George again in the new world that God is making, where there will be no more tears or sadness, no more goodbyes and no more growing old and frail. Please help us all to hope in you at this time and prepare ourselves in this life for the one that is to come.

In Jesus’ name we pray.

Amen.

3-2=1

Pop died today. I need to write it. To keep on saying it. 101 years is such a long time - and yet, still a flash.

We got the news - I was with my sister in Rockhampton - and I had to leave very soon afterwards to pick Andrew up from the airport and keep driving north.

Silly time to have planned a holiday.

Andrew got into the car and I started looking at the clock. Just one hour ago and he was still breathing! He was close to us still - just a few minutes away! But time keeps moving. It's night now. We're 500kms further north and he's 8 hours further away. And getting swept further back into the past. What does it matter if he lived for more than a century? Time is a rip.

Please pray for my grandmother. After a marriage of 75 years, she is alone.

Three months ago I had 3 living grandparents. Now I'm down to one.

George Hohl. 1911-2012.

My 101 year old grandfather is very ill.

Holiday plans may be about to change.

car trip sound track

I'm looking for stuff to listen to. All up, we'll be doing 40 hours of driving in the next 11 days + extra because of roadwork.

Buying more music today. Suggestions?

Don't assume any suggestion is too old or too obvious. Forty hours is a lot.

thoughts on music etc

My thoughts on music, gender, styles etc. are coming along nicely. Don't want to post too much here in case I spoil things for the three people coming to the conference.

I have 2 hours for my seminar. How does this sound? Does it sound like something you'd like to come to?

Hour 1: Music and personality theory
Doing a personality test and marking it (15 minutes) (need to do this before I explain any more - otherwise will get skewed results)
The song choice dilemma
The nfc, nfe theory
Application to music at church
The song quadrant
Classifying songs - activity
Choosing songs for church

Hour 2: Four practical tips for giving a song broader appeal
Hands on - people will play/lead/introduce/sing a couple of songs. We'll try to make them sound good and have wider/different appeal.

Feeling Melancholy

Yesterday I drove up the mountain to Toowoomba. Today I drove back down.

I listened to Tim Freedman most of the time in the car.

Didn't want the trips to end.

A Fantastic Day.

1. I got Joel's WISC scores back. He no longer has a learning disability! Amazing! His lowest results jumped significantly - Processing speed went from the 16th percentile (3.5 years ago) to the 42nd percentile now (almost normal!). Working memory went from the 42nd percentile to the 91st percentile!!!! His highest - verbal comprehension - went from the 98th percentile to the 97.7th! These numbers aren't meant to move much so we're not sure what's going on... but we're happy. These new numbers have made me rethink our spelling strategy for the future. My current theory is that Joel can't spell because he was taught all the spelling rules at a stage when he wasn't able to learn them (he couldn't even read then. At all.) Now he is in a position to learn so I need to go back to year 2 and teach him the basics.

2. My classroom got lovely ash coloured blinds fitted. They look great.

3. I did 3 hours of supply during which time I made a lovely necklace, played dominoes, watched Mao's Last Dancer, and had a nice morning tea.

4. At midnight I worked out some stuff about congregational music and personality that I've been thinking about for the last couple of months. I've found some psych research that gives the perfect approach to think about it and language to talk about it - preferences etc. I want to write it up properly... You'll hear more.

5. Just had lunch out with Andrew.

6. About to go and buy holiday reading books for the kids.

7. My parents-in-law are coming over for dinner.

8. Holidays start this afternoon!

Yay!

Hope you are all having good days too.

More blog silence.

I feel like I haven't written an interesting post for about 12 months. Thinking about lots of stuff, much of which can't be shared - though I'd love to.

Yesterday was recorder concert day for my year 4s. I set my classroom up with a stage area and chairs and sent invites to parents. Each kid had to play a song from one of their books - they got to choose how hard a piece to play. I accompanied them on piano. Out of 100+ kids, I only had about 10 Lucy Lockets and a handful of Hot Cross Buns. Some kids played really impressive stuff. Only one child refused to play (but he refuses to do most things). Only one other couldn't play her song. It was all pretty bearable and each concert was over within half an hour. A great way of getting kids to practice. Last week I was despairing over them.

Today, my junior choir (year 2-3, plus a couple of brilliant year ones) performed the Gingerbread Man mini-musical. It was fun. They were great. The thing about working with primary aged kids (particularly at my school) is that they'll do stuff. No nerves or embarrassment issues to work through. It's cool because I say it is. Standing up in front of 400 people with a microphone and singing a solo is just what you do.

I have the best job.

Hopefully blog on something else soon.

sing anything audio

I wrote this with my year 7s last week - each class did a verse. Recorded it up with a student at lunch time today. It's slow and boring but her voice is pretty in spots.


What do you think?





My year 6s had their turn today. Their song has grunt. Here are the lyrics:


Bacon

1. Ev’ry day I’m wakin’

To the greasy smell of bacon

Ev’ry second waitin’

For a slice of scrumptious bacon

Chorus:

Bacon, Bacon

The taste can’t be mistaken

Bacon, Bacon

I love it, I’m not fakin’

2. I like it when it’s hot

Still oinking on the plate

Eat it all yourself

Or share it with a mate

3. Cook it up with eggs

Add tomato sauce

A food fit for the gods

Eat with no remorse

Bridge:

Bacon, Bacon

It’s even got a minecraft mod

Church Song Preferences - Help me out?

Before you read any further - think up your top 5 church songs. Write them down so you don't forget.

Have you done that?

Good.

Read on.

_______________________________

classifying congregational songs: creedal vs devotional


I'm trying to work out some robust ways to classify congregational songs. Not in order to dis or ditch... Just trying to understand better how they work and ultimately see if people have patterns of preference.

Here are two categories: Creedal and Devotional. Most hymns and contemporary church songs fit clearly into one category or the other. With a couple of songs, different verses work differently.

Creedal Songs primarily state truth. God's people are singing stuff about God. They may use either first person singular or first person plural pronouns (I, Me, My, Us, We, Our) but they always refer to God in third person terms: God, Jesus, the King, Him etc. because they are singing about God rather than directly to God. At best, a creedal song will be a powerful statement of the gospel that moves us and calls us to trust in and live for Jesus. At worst, a creedal song will feel like a stilted setting of the New Bible Dictionary.

Devotional Songs differ from creedal songs in that they are sung directly to God. They refer to God as 'you'. Devotional songs may be prayers, songs of response (stating how the singer feels about God) or aspiration (saying what the singer is going to do for God) or they may be songs that state truth about God - but declare it to God rather than to others. They tend to follow the form of the current day love song. At best, a devotional song will be a moving response to the gospel. At worst, it will be as wet and shallow as 1D.

Hymns fit into both categories. Creedal hymns include And Can It Be, Jesus the Name High Over All, Hark The Herald Angels Sing, My Song Is Love Unknown, Before the Throne of God Above, and When I Survey (except possibly v2). Devotional Hymns include Be Thou My Vision, Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah, and How Great Thou Art.

On the chart below I've categorised the top 20 or so CCLI songs.

Song	Song Classification
How Great Is Our God	Creedal. Song leader will often turn the bridge devotional ‘You’re the name above all names...”
In Christ Alone	Creedal.
Mighty To Save	First verse and chorus possibly creedal, second verse devotional.
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)	Creedal.
How Deep The Father's Love For Us	Creedal.
Blessed Be Your Name	Devotional - Prayer.
Here I Am To Worship	Devotional.
Shout To The Lord	Devotional.
For All You've Done	Devotional.
Lord I Lift Your Name On High	Devotional.
Hosanna	Devotional.
The Power Of Your Love	Devotional.
Indescribable	Devotional.
This Is Our God	Devotional.
Desert Song	??
Open The Eyes Of My Heart	Devotional - Prayer.
What The Lord Has Done In Me	Creedal.
My Redeemer Lives	Creedal. Bridge devotional.
Shine Jesus Shine	Devotional.
Happy Day	Devotional.
There Is A Redeemer	Verse creedal, Chorus devotional.
The Stand	Devotional.

You get the idea. So...

1. Go back to your top 5 songs. How many are creedal? How many are devotional?

2. Generally, do you prefer one type over another?

3. Try to remember what you sang in church on Sunday. What was the balance?

Contraceptive fail.

Not us.

Some friends.

Got me thinking, though. It could happen. I think I'd be excited if it did. (In an Oh my! Life and finances are about to get a lot more complicated kind of a way!)

TMI?

Ephesians 4 and Psalm 68 (take two)

 I'll hit 'Publish' after I've written the content this time!

'Don't try this at home' is sometimes good advice when looking at Paul's use of the OT. Of course what Paul says is right because he's inspired and all. But let's face it, his application of many passages is... well... imaginative.

I've always been stumped by Paul's use of Psalm 68 in Ephesians 4. The context is a discussion on Christian unity - particularly between Jews and Gentiles:

⁵  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

⁷ But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore it says,

“ When He ascended on high,
He led captive a host of captives,
And He gave gifts to men.”

⁹ (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is Himself also He who ascendedfar above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)¹¹ And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, ¹²  for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; ...

The quote comes from Psalm 68. Psalm 68 is a Davidic psalm with a strong us and them thing happening. God will protect, provide prosperity, and carry the burdens of his people. His enemies however, will perish, melt like wax, get smashed up etc. Half way through, there's a picture of a victorious king marching home with a pile of captives from whom he receives treasures - tributes. Everyone gives him gifts - even those who hate him.

You have ascended on high, You have led captive Your captives;

You have received gifts among men,

This is the verse that Paul quotes. Notice the difference? David says 'He received gifts.' Paul says 'He gave gifts.' Kinda different.

Here's a theory. Paul knew what the original said and (at least some) of his readers would have too. He wasn't trying to deceive. He changed it intentionally to highlight the difference between then and now. Post cross, it's no longer an us vs them situation. Christ's ascension as victorious king is good news for the nations! They don't need to resentfully pay taxes to this new ruler. He makes them his own people, breaks down the walls of hostility between them and others in his kingdom. He showers themwith gifts!

What do you think?

Ephesians 4 and Psalm 68

sing anything

I'm starting a songwriting unit with my year 6s and 7s. Each student has to write me a song with at least 2 verses and a chorus. We're looking at the different sections of a song and how they function. How chords and melodies work together, how chord progressions can create moods etc etc. Today I wrote this song with the year 7s as a sample. It was fun. Next week we'll record it up.

Sing Anything

My mind is blank
My thoughts have sank
There’s nothing in my head at all
I’ve hit a brick wall.

I don’t know what words to sing 
So I’ll just sing anything 
I don’t know what words to sing 
So I’ll just sing anything. 
Anything… 

This is verse two
Nothing to do
Never written a song till now
Someone tell me how

I don’t know what words to sing...

What’s this I hear?
Within my ear
Could it be that I’ve a written a song?
Three verses long?

I don’t know what words to sing 

So I’ll just sing anything 

I don’t know what words to sing 

So I’ll just sing anything. 

Anything… 

Anything...

Anything...

sar + yr 7 2012.

viola update

Today I tried out violas. I'm borrowing one from a friend at the moment, but want to get my own later on in the year. The ones I played ranged in price from $700 to $2600. It's amazing how different they all felt and sounded. Unsurprisingly, my favourite is not the $700 model. The one I want is big and dark sounding. And expensive.

I came home motivated to practice more. Alas, my current viola just didn't sound as good... Oh well.

Good news. After 11 days, my new bow still works! I like it a lot and hope I get another few weeks out of it. Or months. Please?

musical set 1

I may have done some of this while I was doing supply work today.

Silent reading anyone?

This is three canvases that will be hinges together.

A very kind and able mum is doing up one with the Old Woman Who Lived in  a Shoe's house.

We had a working bee today after school. 16 sheep outfits were made.

I still need a haystack (for Little Boy Blue), a wall (for Humpty) and some trees for Little Bo Peep's sheep to hide behind.

work work work

work work work work.

It's all I ever do.

today in RE...

... I just read out the bible. Exodus 11-14 (not all of it). To 200+ kids at a time. No props, no pics, not much prep.

I only had to stop once because someone was talking.

The bible holds them. It's a gripping story.

junior choir mini musical

So I've written this little musical for my little kids about the gingerbread man. Okay. Written might be too strong a word. Pieced together. Typed up. Basic story? A little old man and a little old woman bake a gingerbread man who runs away from them. In his travels he meets a truckload of nursery rhyme characters, all of whom sing a song before finding that they can't catch him. Finally he meets a fox who sings a song and does catch him. The story is a tragedy.

The aim of the whole thing was to include as many songs as possible and as many parts as possible with as few lines to remember as possible. There a ten soloists, a narrator, a bunch of sheep (belonging to Bo Peep), a crowd of naughty children (belonging to the Old Woman Who Lived In a Shoe), a troop of soldiers (The Grand Old Duke's 'Men'), and a few random animals to muck around in Boy Blue's corn. Parts for about 50 kids in all.

For sets I've bought 5 canvases which Andrew will hinge together in sets of two and three. I got them on special at the shops and felt pretty good about it until I got home and realised that being able to draw a 1.5x2cm biro sketch on my church notice sheet is not the same as being able to paint five big canvases. I'm having a prop making working bee after school on Thursday. Need to source some talent before then.

Here's part of my fox song. The tune is a minor version of 'this old man'.

I’m a fox, sleek and smart

A cunning mind, an ice cold heart

When I decide what I would like for lunch - 

A flick, a snap and gobble, crunch!

I look around, what do I see?

A gingerbread man just right for me!

with a flick, a snap, a gobble and a crunch

I will eat him for my lunch.

sar 2012

Deb has a blog! Go read it!

My speechie friend's report on me.

"Simone Richardson was referred for speech and language assessment due to concerns over her inability to cease conversation when delivering a lecture to a room full of women. She attended the assessment by herself. She was easy to engage and was notably verbose throughout the session. She was observed to interact with the test items briefly, until distracted by something else. Despite this, she displays excellent expressive and receptive language skills. Her social skills are well above average however she would benefit from referral to the specialised course 'Let Go of the Microphone'. No further intervention is necessary."

just so everyone knows....

Developing means not yet developed. Fine on a prep report. Not good on a year 7 report.

Developing well, however, is goodish. We're not yet entirely there, but I'm pleased with the direction in which things are moving. Hopeful that we'll arrive in good time for... Next year's report? Adulthood?

For me, basic is a variant of limited or developing.

Some means not much.

An example:

Roy can perform C major and minor scales, maintaining some level of accuracy. His duet, "Lightly Row", was performed to a basic standard. His sight reading skills are developing. Roy has demonstrated a limited understanding of music theory.

So what does Roy get overall?

Sorry for the silence. I'm exhausted.

- Choir competitions.

- Report writing.

- Extra work.

- Rat hiding under the fridge.
Dog obsessing over it, barking all night.
Me grossed out.
Husband concerned about my 'phobia'

- 4 broken viola bows
I am cursed. Beginning to be really concerned. Man in the shop thinks an exorcism is needed.

Saturday review

Thanks everyone for suffering through talk prep with me for the last few weeks. After all my whinging, things went pretty well. I think my talks were well received.

Preparation is torture. Every time I sit down and try to write a talk I swear that I'll never do it again. But then there's the buzz of presenting and the feeling that I may have actually communicated something worthwhile and helpful... and while I'm riding the high of it all, someone asks, I say 'yes', and find I'm locked into another round!

But not for a little while.

A culture of mediocrity in our churches

I've contributed to the discussion over here. Feeling narkey. Hard to pin-point why. I hate badly done bible teaching at least as much as the next person...

I've still got some work to do on my talks for tomorrow.

I think I might do some baking.

Yay!

Our senior choir which I accompany (conducted by Lorna, my teaching partner) just won our QYMA heat. 89% Gold.

Viola update. Week ?

Still having fun.

Ashamed to admit that I want to join the strings ensemble at our school. I'm about at the standard of a kid who has been having group lessons for 2 years. The year 5s. So I'd slot right in.

A bit embarrassed to ask.

A very sweet 8 year old came and excitedly told me that he learns from the same teacher as me. He said he'd like to play with me some time. Maybe he, Micah and I could make our own ensemble!

I had a little joke at school today.

It was funny.

75% of the kids thought so too.

We were playing concentration - a rhythm game.

This is the game of concentration.
Concentration has begun.
Tell me the name of.... colours.
Blue
Green
Light blue
Orange
Red
Dark Blue
White
Royal Blue
Aqua...

We also did fruits and animals, then....

This is the game of concentration.

Concentration has begun.

Tell me the name of.... lame bands.

One Direction.

One Direction.

One Direction.

One Direction.

One girl is probably still cursing me.

Everything is BAD!

Watch out! The world is a dreadful place and it only seems to be getting worse.

In the last 24 hours I have read/heard that:

1. We are no longer getting enough sleep. Most of us live in a constant state of social-lag (like jet lag but it never ever goes away.) This is NEW and it is BAD.

2. There is more litter left lying around now than EVER BFORE. This is BAD.

3. Children don't get taught to say thank-you and please anymore. This is obviously BAD.

4. Parents are neglecting children by playing with their smart phones. Children have never been ignored before. The is BAD.

5. Children in our schools can know longer reed or right proply like wee can. SHOCKINGLY BAD!

6. And need I mention gay marriage? Never been thought of before and BAD BAD BAD!


I feel my heart rate rising.

Enough with the alarmist headlines!

The world has been bad since the fall. It's no worse now than it was a thousand years ago.

How about some good headlines instead?

1. Heaps more kids can read and write now than 100 years ago.'
2. Women are now allowed to go to school and vote. This wasn't always the case.
3. It is no longer acceptable to show prejudice based on skin colour. (Theoretically.)
4. Fewer babies die in infancy than ever before.
5. Fewer mothers die in childbirth than ever before.

What I'd like for Mother's day next year.

Dear Family (particularly husband),

I know that you always feel guilty about Mother's day. Have you done enough? Have you done the right stuff? Jenny has suggested that it's a good idea for us Mothers to set out our expectations nice and clearly so that we won't be disappointed. So. Here they are in seven easy to understand points.

1. I'm not into Mother's day. I'm not just saying that. I'm really not into it. I feel like it's a Hallmark occasion. On this particular celebration, my expectations are really low. I'm not expecting any fuss. I don't want any fuss. (Note to other men reading this: Most of my friends do want and expect fuss. Ask your wife!)

2. I really hate gifts bought from our school Mother's day stall. I know I'm a kill joy and I will take it well if gifts from school appear, but I really don't like them.

3. I do like cards that the kids have made. Encourage this.

4. If you want to get me something, make it something necessary - like new electric beaters, the latest Twilight DVD, or an iPad. Actually, ask me before you buy the iPad so we can make it a family trip to the apple store. It's good that we do things together.

5. Sunday morning is a shocker. You won't remember to wish me a happy mother's day before church. That's okay. Maybe mention it to the kids on Saturday night and they can remember.

6. I do want to visit family on Mother's day. Be careful not to organise any church function for that day.

7. Please remember that this applies only to mothers day and certainly not to my birthday. 

I think you are all fabulous and I can't remember a bad mother's day yet.

Simone.


Blog friends - Why not post what you like for mother's day in the comments. Next year I'll repost it so (hopefully) your husband can read it.

5 Curiosities about US Christians and Politics

I find it all very interesting. I've been following the Republican primaries and reading the christian comments around it all. It's curious.

1. It seems widely accepted that conservativism is a Christian virtue.
2. Many seem to think that abortion, same sex marriage and me not paying a cent more tax are the only issues that God cares about.
3. Many seem to grossly overestimate the power that conservative christians wield within the Republican party.
4. Many seem to have an inflated estimation of the importance of the US in God's plans for creation.
5. Many seem to have an insane prejudice against President Obama. [Silly. Even the Third Eagle of the Apocalypse accepts that he is not the Antichrist.]

Talk one finished

But it feels long.

And the end feels lame.

But it's less clunky then it was a few hours ago.

Preacher guys, how long does 3,150 words take you to preach?

[I speak quickly.]

sitting in a coffee shop...

... trying to get these talks under control.

My exegesis is okay. Feels fresh. But my first talk is clunky and undisciplined. I have this morning to hit it repeatedly with a big stick until it behaves.

Again I ask. Who would do this all the time?

(Anyone want to come to Toowoomba with me next weekend?)

How To Care For Extroverts.

Okay introverted friends. This post is not aimed at you. It's aimed at people who write these dumb lists.

How To Care For Extroverts.

1. Respect our need for conversation. Honestly, if we are standing together at a party or something for half an hour, I am going to say something to you. It is awkward and unnatural for me if there is no communication between us. I feel stupid if everyone else in the room is in a conversation and I'm not. And I'll be bored. So I'll introduce some light, social chit chat. Or I might as you about yourself. Don't get all introvert-righteous. 'Her conversation was so shallow blah blah blah' or 'She wanted to know all this stuff about me.' I will make conversation because I need to. Respect that.

2. Realise that conversation is a two-way street. If we are in a situation where we are required to talk, you need to play your part. As an extrovert, I'll usually initiate the conversation (but it's nice if I don't always have to - see point 3) but it is your job to keep it going. Generally, one or two word answers are unhelpful.
Me: What have you been up to today?
Introvert : Nothing much.
Me: Anything on for tomorrow?
Introvert: Not really.
AAARRRGGHHH! Blood from stone! GIVE ME SOMETHING TO WORK WITH!!!!

3. Sometimes be the one to initiate conversation. It takes a lot of energy (even for extroverts) to always be taking charge of social situations. Why not start a conversation yourself? Just for a change! It may make your friend's day!

4. Don't call us shallow because we can do light-touch conversation. We do it because it is often needed. If you want the conversation to go deeper, then take it deeper. Offer more.

5. Don't assume that social embarrassment is easier for your extroverted friend to deal with than it is for you to deal with. It isn't. He is dying underneath the happy face. Show some kindness.


6. Remember that it is possible (and common) to be the life of the party and feel utterly alone. Don't make assumptions. Don't think you are the only exhausted, miserable, lonely person in the room.

7. If your extroverted friend is feeling depressed or a bit down, company and a new environment may help. Suggest you go out somewhere together.

8. Don't hide behind your introversion. Let people get to know you and buck up and do what needs to be done.

9. Don't quote research at us that says that introverts are cleverer than extroverts. Even if it were true, it would only be true on averages and therefore says nothing about whether or not you are cleverer than me. (The fact that you didn't realise that makes me suspect that you are a less-clever than average introvert.)

10. Enough with the whining! Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Stop writing these dumb posts about how misunderstood you are. You are who you are. Sit up and make life happen.

NAPLAN tomorrow - Persuasive writing tips

One Direction parody by No Direction "What Makes Us Really Cool"

'Application'

That's another word for Roman Catholicism, isn't it?

Great quote from a friend. What do you think?

Perhaps I need a BowZo!

The sound of that lady playing her violin is pretty hard to take. At least viola has a lower pitch.