December 2009 Lower Family Newsletter

[Chad T. Lower]

So one of the activities I have been mentioning the past two newsletters was the musical I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change.  Performances were November 12, 13, and 14.  The first day (Thursday) was the largest attendance of the three with 166 people.  The other two nights were close in attendance (in the 140s and 150s respectively).  My personal best performance was on Saturday (in my opinion), but the people who saw all three performances said that Thursday's performance was the best overall.  The college did a write up in their daily news called PCToday and can be read at http://www.pct.edu/pctoday/events/Penn_College_Student_Faculty_Cast_to_Present_Musical_Revue.shtml.  The show was even featured in the local newspaper http://www.lockhaven.com/page/content.detail/id/514310.html.

 

After the last show, we (the cast) were asked to sing at the Christmas Card ceremony for the college.  Penn College hands out large wooden boards to be decorated every Christmas since I have been there and usually an organization or an office will take and decorate one.(Pictures of the cards for this year can be viewed at http://www.pct.edu/pctoday/photos/2009HolidayCards.shtml.)  On December 2nd, there was a formal ceremony to show off the cards, but they will be left up around the mall on campus until the holiday break.  We were asked to prepare and perform two songs, one to start and another to end the ceremony.  We performed Winter Wonderland and Sleigh Ride.  There was a good turn out and Suzy and the kids were able to stop by as well. 

 

Bella's swim lessons ended last month, but she enjoyed them so much, we signed her up for another class -- and signed up Malachi for swim lessons, too!  They are in different ability groups, so not in the same class together, but the same night and only 15 minutes difference for start times, so it makes it convenient to take them.  Malachi has really taken to the water and is already getting his head wet.

 

Malachi's school held a Thanksgiving feast for the students as well as the parents.  I was able to go last year, but had classes this year, so Suzy went.  He sang a few songs about Thanksgiving and dressed up like a pilgrim.  Then they ate a Thanksgiving snack (Suzy said it wasn't enough food to be a dinner), then dismissed for the holiday.  He only goes to school three days a week (Tues, Wed, Thurs), so he had quite a few days off from school.

 

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, we travelled down to Chambersburg/Greencastle, PA area to visit with my extended family.  My mom was working in north New Jersey and my siblings were in Virginia Beach, VA, so we went to visit with my mom's brothers and sisters (and their family).  Thanksgiving dinner was at my Aunt Kay and Uncle Britt's house, and then we stayed at my Uncle John (recently passed) and Aunt Carol's (John's sister) house.  On Saturday, we travelled to Suzy's parents house and stayed there until Monday.  Our kiddos had a great time playing with their cousins (first cousins, first cousins once removed, and second cousins).  We plan on visiting with both sets of families again for the Christmas holiday, but on different weekends (and Christmas day will be spent at our house), so it will be less travelling for us.

 

Suzy is still writing.  She submitted her manuscript to the Romance Writers of America for the Golden Heart contest (http://www.rwanational.org/cs/contests_and_awards/golden_heart_awards).  They won't pick winners until next year, so we have some time to wait.  She is still waiting to hear back from the publisher about the story as well.  I still encourage you to check out her blog (www.susanlower.com) and read her eHow articles.  Her newest articles include:

How to Create Your Own Holiday Planner

How to Earn Cash Back Shopping Online (Instant Rebates & Rewards)

 

This week, I have finals at Penn College.  They started Monday and are supposed to go through Friday, but with the snowstorm that is predicted for tonight, tomorrow morning's finals may get rescheduled for Saturday morning.  I gave 1 final Monday and another today (Tuesday).  I have 1 scheduled for tomorrow morning (8-11 a.m.), then 3 on Friday for a total of 9 hours!  Grades are due Tuesday at noon, so I will be busy grading this weekend.

 

The next verse in our definition of love (from I Corinthians 13) reads that, "love does not boast."

 

In Psalm 49:6, we can read about wealthy people who boast about all the money they have.  The next verse tells us that these same wealthy people cannot stop their own deaths nor the deaths of others by trying to bribe God with their money.  All that boasting was for naught.  When we love others, there is no need to boast.  We should be humble with what God has given us.  Those who are humble, God redeems (v. 15).

 

It would be an injustice to leave it at that, for there is one (and only one) reason why boasting is encouraged.  A few chapters earlier (Psalm 34:2), David is sad to, "... boast only in the Lord."  However, the method of his boasting is to, "Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together."  The boasting is not done of David's possessions or what David has done; he does not brag about himself.  By loving others, we don't want to brag about what we have or what we have done.

 

Finally, looking to the New Testament, Paul talks in Philippians (3:1-8) about boasting.  He, of all people, would have an easy time boasting of who he is.  He was born into a highly respected Jewish family.  His family could trace his lineage back to the Twelve Tribes of Israel.  He has followed all of the laws from his circumcision on the eighth day through to the present.  He even went from town to town and city to city punishing those people who were not following the Jewish laws and customs.  He truly was a remarkable man.  Yet, for all that he had, he considers it all "a loss."  His accomplishments were meaningless, especially when compared to what Jesus did for the world.  Rather than take credit for his actions or the position he was born into, rather than boast of his accomplishments, he gives credit to others.  When we love, we should not boast of ourselves, but give credit to others.  By acknowledging their actions and deeds, we are showing our love for them.

 

Love is patient. Love is kind.  It does not eny.  It does not boast.

 

See you next year!

Chad T. Lower
a.k.a. Chopper
http://chadtlower.tripod.com/

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Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others.
Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
                              Philippians 2:3-4