Not to burst anyone's bubble...

But I'm somewhat peeved.

Take a look here: http://phc.edu/news/docs/11032006Media.asp

One of the other Christian colleges in the country, Patrick Henry College, over in Purcellville, VA, just had a Consecration Ceremony. Now, I don't have any problem with those, and I don't have any huge issues with Patrick Henry. But this is disappointing:
"Identifying PHC's mission to equip Christian leaders to help change the nation, Dr. Walker noted: "Our strategy involves equipping (students)… to be honed instruments in the arsenal of the Lord, soldiers in His army… sharp arrows in God's quiver...." and then later... "The hour-long ceremony closed with a Scripture reading by Dean Bouchoc, a consecration prayer by Mr. Smith, a responsive reading by the audience and a closing hymn, I'd Rather Have Jesus. "

Nothing wrong there, I suppose. But I looked up the lyrics to the hymn, because it sounded suspicious. Unfortunately, I found what I was afraid of. Lyrics to a hymn that doesn't necessarily follow what Dr. Walker notes.

I'd Rather Have Jesus

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.

Refrain:Than to be the king of a vast domain,
Or be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;
I’d rather be true to His holy name

He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs;
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead.

There is nothing inherently wrong with this song, at least, that I know of, but it fails to be consistent with the mindset stated by Dr. Walker. If the mindset is to make your students "instruments in the arsenal of the Lord, soldiers in His army… sharp arrows in God's quiver..." then why not sing like it?

This makes me thankful for our very own Cantus Christi and the songs that we sing, such as The Son of God Goes Forth to War. Here are the words in comparison:


The Son of God goes forth to war,
A kingly crown to gain;
His blood red banner streams afar:
Who follows in His train?
Who best can drink his cup of woe,
Triumphant over pain,
Who patient bears his cross below,
He follows in His train.

That martyr first, whose eagle eye
Could pierce beyond the grave;
Who saw his Master in the sky,
And called on Him to save.
Like Him, with pardon on His tongue,
In midst of mortal pain,
He prayed for them that did the wrong:
Who follows in His train?

A glorious band, the chosen few
On whom the Spirit came;
Twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew,
And mocked the cross and flame.
They met the tyrant’s brandished steel,
The lion’s gory mane;
They bowed their heads the death to feel:
Who follows in their train?

A noble army, men and boys,
The matron and the maid,
Around the Savior’s throne rejoice,
In robes of light arrayed.
They climbed the steep ascent of Heav’n,
Through peril, toil and pain;
O God, to us may grace be given,
To follow in their train.

Now *that* sounds like a song worthy to be sung by an army of students... the army of God... the army of Jesus.

I'm glad I'm where I am... where at least, we make a great attempt to be consistent.

Our Father is *not* normal...

That is, He doesn't operate in normal ways.

We have a Father who likes weather patterns to change every 3 months. And that is normal, supposedly. Then He changes the weather in places like Texas, where you have 8 months of summer, 2 months of winter, and 2 months of something in between. Our Father makes the leaves of the trees to fall in the Autumn and then has them grow new ones (a symbol of the resurrection!) in the spring, with blossoms to boot. But then He has also made the Pine Trees, the trees of East Texas, which (unless they're dead) do not change colors or lose their "leaves." They just stay green all of the time.

We have a Father who decided that in order to save His people, He would have His Son -- God -- become a MAN and come down and live among us, and die. And then, He would be resurrected. Who ever thought of that? Dying, and then living again? I don't think we can call that normal.

We have a Father who exists in a 3-way relationship. The Trinity. He is 3, but He's also One. Huh?

We have a Father who calls us to Himself every Lord's Day to sing His praises in the heavens, who brings us to His Table for fellowship, where we partake of the body and blood of His Son. Is that normal? Oh, and while we're there, we're communing with the saints who have come before us. Wow.

We have a Father who accepts us as His people because the blood of His Son and our Savior covers our sins. We would say that no one in their right mind would accept such a wicked people as friends. No normal person would let thieves, liars, cheaters, and sinners in general sit at a table with him/her. Right?

No normal person.

Thank goodness our Father isn't normal.