World of Chaos played Skid Row Garage in York, PA tonight.
Adventures in Music
Isaiah 43: Forgiveness
Isaiah 43:22 RSV — “Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel!
Isaiah 43:25 RSV — “I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.
Although Jacob’s people deny and forget God repeatedly, he does not withhold forgiveness.
The phrase “for my own sake” stands out for the human truth that when we forgive those who wrong us, we are blessed.
A Good Cry/Someone Needs This
The last episode of Duncan Trussell’s The Midnight Gospel is a doozy.
It’s a surreally animated conversation between Trussel and his mother, Deneen Fendig, who passed away shortly after the conversation.
Although I knew the story behind it, that didn’t prepare me for the power of the exchange.
Fendig had been given six months to live, four years previous. She had been told over and over that her end was near.
The grace and peace that emanate from the calm tone of her voice were healing. She was in a place of true acceptance.
The wisdom of the conversation runs deep. With a runtime under 30 minutes, it’s the kind of exposure to death that everyone should take a moment to experience.
Isaiah 42: Servant Song
Isaiah 42:13-14 KJV — The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies. I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.
Different translations have the LORD referring to Himself as a soldier, champion, warrior, or man of war. Then, in the next verse, He holds his peace before crying out like a woman in labor.
The entire chapter contains repetitions and apparent contradictions.
Some sources refer to this poem as the first of Isaiah’s Song of the Servant, calling God’s people to quietly bring justice to the world.
Maybe this chapter is guiding us to recognize that our role here is small. God determines the rhythms of the universe and we’re blind to the true machinations.
I Don’t Want To
I had a lot of reasons to not train tonight. Somehow, I got myself here.
No turning back now.
Isaiah 41: Cyrus
Isaiah 41:10 KJV — Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
In this chapter, Isaiah foretells the rise of king Cyrus and God’s continued guidance of Jacob’s people.
Isaiah 40: Comfort
Isaiah 40:17 KJV — All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
I take comfort when I come across these reminders that God’s authority is everything and man’s authority is nothing.
There is dispute over whether Isaiah wrote this and later chapters. John Oswalt and Henry Halley believe Isaiah is the sole author. Many others seem to think there are three or more authors. I’m inclined to side with Halley.
Rosie Boffo Photography
Wow. So so grateful to the talented and generous Rosie Boff for taking and sharing these pics of my son playing rock star.
The “Banned Book” Lie
If the book is readily available in multiple places (some for free), it isn’t banned.
With limited space and resources, schools have to make choices. The “banned book” panic is a distraction.
Homeschool Now
My 15-year-old is also entering 10th grade, but I don’t think he knows it. We’ve been homeschooling since kindergarten, but don’t use schoolish conventions like grades.
My first advice would be to go for it. I was an energetic and intelligent student and high school only got in the way of my learning.
You can pull a student from a Delaware school at any time: https://education.delaware.gov/families/k12/homeschools-and-private-schools/opening-a-nonpublic-school/
If you decide to homeschool, do a deep dive on Deschooling. I have some articles at DelawareDad.com. The basic idea is to analyze and clear out the assumptions trained into us (parent AND child) by the government education system. I took what I learned about deschooling and applied it to a broader set of assumptions I was living under. It changed my life: politics, philosophy, religion…everything changed.
The scary start looks like an extended summer vacation. For a teen, that’s going to be rocky and take some bravery on your part. The first idea is that we need time to gain space from the innumerable indignities of school. Think of it as taking time for yourself after a bad relationship.
Ask all your questions. Don’t worry about “success.” Worry about raising happy and healthy humans who can recognize their own needs and have the tools to fulfill those needs.