I’m getting ready to leave my office on my last day of work at Penn. It feels a little odd, although that’s perhaps because I’m coming back tomorrow to clean up all the mess! I’m such a procrastinator that I can’t even quit on time.
11/11/2005
11/10/2005
a prayer
I was speaking to my co-worker/boss a few days ago about my grandfather, who was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and probably does not have long to live. She mentioned a prayer she had read from a Confederate soldier disabled in the Civil War that she thought I might find helpful. . . .
I asked God for strength, that I might achieve,
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health, that I might do great things,
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy,
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for – but everything I had hoped for.
Almost, despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among all men, most richly blessed.
11/9/2005
Christmas deals
I realize, as I title this post, that I have been complaining that Christmas decorations/music/hype should not start immediately after Halloween. In fact, as I was eating lunch yesterday with my friend Kim at Pizza Rustica where they actually had Magic Hat #9 on tap, we were surrounded by Christmas songs. Of course, just as they were getting annoying (Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree), Hark the Herald Angels Sing came on, and who am I to complain when “Mild He lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die” is piping out through the sound system?
That’s my introduction to my suggestion that you might want to pick up a box of Andrew Peterson’s Christmas CDs for gifts for your friends and loved ones. When the CD Behold the Lamb of God came out last fall, I bought 10 copies–one for me and 9 to give away. I may do the same thing this year, since a box of 10 is only $85. Since I heard Behold the Lamb live in 2001, and have travelled to Nashville the past three years to hear it live again, it’s probably not necessary to tell you how highly I recommend the CD. But, if you are looking for a “Christmas” CD that you can listen to all year (and I do), and one that provides a(n)? historical context for the birth of Christ, please check this out.
Or, if you’d like to be on my Christmas list, you could just let me know that. 
11/7/2005
doxology
An historical event last evening at my church . . . for the first time to the best of our knowledge, a sermon was preached in a foreign language and translated for the congregation. It was a beautiful testimony to the worldwide body of Christ, as we were exhorted and encouraged by someone who spoke powerfully, although in another tongue. I mentioned to the speaker and the translator later last night that hearing a sermon piece by piece as I waited for the translation allowed the content to soak in more deeply for me. Also, because the sermon was translated, they had to winnow it down to a much shorter version than their original, which meant that no words were wasted. I would not necessarily desire a translated sermon every week, but last night’s sermon, and the entire service was a taste of the life to come where every tribe, tongue, and nation will sing before the Lord.
I also had the thought as I was talking to some friends after the service that so often American pastors or workers go to preach to other nations and use translators (not that there’s anything wrong with that!), but what a privilege to have the nations come to us. And what a privilege to learn from our brothers.
And, yes, I did sing along with the doxology which was the benediction for the service.
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