May 26 "In This World Together"

Thursday Evening:  The third graders (including our very own Aidan Paul Pahman) from Meadow Brook Elementary School gave a spring concert over at Northern High School last night. It was so delightful! The program was titled: "In This World Together!" and featured beautiful songs from all over the place--China, Nigeria, and others. 

Let me show you some pictures ...

Since Aidan needed to be at the high school 15 minutes prior to the performance, his mama and siblings secured front-row seats while we waited for everything to begin. PERFECT.

Here are Cal and Erin. Cal is sitting next to his mom, asking her questions about her phone (I think). Erin was "horsing around" with me, asking me to take funny pictures of her. She cracks me up.

Here is Brendan, who always loves music and a good concert ...

Here are the three siblings of our performer (Aidan) posing for cute pictures ...

Promptly at 6:30, the third graders from Meadow Brook filed in orderly and took their places on the risers. See Aidan in the front row, third from the right?

I thought he looked very nicely dressed in his blue Husky hoodie and blue tennis shoes.

The concert began with "In This World Together" with motions and all kinds of happiness.

These children also sang a few songs in other languages--such as Mandarin and a language from Nigeria. Very impressive.

These 3rd graders learned all of these beautiful songs and motions from their incredible music teacher, Jackie Schoon. She is one amazing woman. Very gifted and so inspirational. To actually accomplish what she did with eight and nine-year-olds was super impressive. The children followed her lead, did what she showed them to do, read from script at microphones, sang in smaller musical groups, played percussion and other cool instruments--she was BORN to be a teacher.

Look at the children on the right playing percussion. They did it so well!

Five of the children played GLOCKENSPIEL! Look at Aidan (below)!

Look how intense Aidan is!

It looks like he is really having a good time, doesn't it?!

I have the titles of all the songs right in front of me on the printed program, and I know the song they did with these candles was near the end--so perhaps it was the reprise of "In This World Together", but it was very nicely done and the candles were such a nice effect.

What beautiful children! What a blessing to be here tonight with Kelly (Dylan was speaking at a conference downtown and could not alter his plans) and the rest of the family. 

I only have ONE other comment to make, but I really feel strongly about it--and I am not blaming the music teacher, or Forest Hill Schools or anything like that--because it's a rather universal (mis)practice ... "The Golden Rule". Who originated it? Is anyone taught that JESUS is the One who spoke these words?

Matthew 7.12: "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Luke states the same thing in his Gospel account. And then there's Christ's quote in Mark 12:31, which follows the greatest commandment to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength ..."The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" 

The reason I make this comment at all is that I think people assume this saying was made up by some very "good" people somewhere and that it is a GOOD saying and we ought to use it as an example for our lives. Except that this is GOD's Word and HIS ways that are always perfect and should be imitated. He says many places in Scripture that He will not give His glory to another, and I just feel that NOT attributing this awesome statement to the correct Author, is stealing from His glory. Enough said.

I had a wonderful time tonight. Love these kiddos so much.