If you have ever been to a Shabbis or to a gathering of Hebrew Christians, undoubtedly you will sing this very simple, very old song, "Hineh Mah Tov umah na'im shevet achim gam yachad" Translated it means, "How good it is, and pleasant, for brothers to dwell peacefully together." That is what I felt at Deb's rememberance. How good and how pleasant it was to come together to be of one thought and of one purpose and experience the peace and blessed assurance of the promised eternal life with Our Father.
It was wonderful to see the Smith family once again. It was wonderful to see so many faces and hear the voices of people that had gone in so many diverse directions. All had come because of the common bond of love and caring for our dear friend and sister and her family.
It was a testament to her faith and the faith of Tom and family that we were all gathered and celebrating Deb's return to her home.
Linny and I had gone to a funeral just a week prior to Deb's celebration. One of our relatives was tragically killed in an automobile accident. As with most funerals, it was an extremely sad occasion.
But I contrast that with the unity and hope that we all felt during our brief gathering on that Sunday afternoon. For all those present knew, as Job so eloquently stated, "I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"
Hallelujah!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Auntie
Auntie passed away early this morning at around 1:30 am. She was 89 years old.
Autie has been residing in a nursing home since the mid 1990's. She had been taken to Jewish Hospital on October 7th because she had developed pneumonia. While she was there the doctors determined she had suffered a heart attack. Perhaps the pneumonia was congestive heart failure? Who knows?
Auntie responded to the antibiotics well enough to go back to the "extended care facility", however her son, Eddie was told by the medical staff that her condition was not good and not to expect her to be around much longer. She passed away in her sleep on October 22, 2007 at the age of 89, five months shy of her 90th birthday.
Auntie was a sweet and decent person. She has been my Mom's best friend from their early childhood days until the day she became incapacitated and couldn't remember anything or anyone.
I have wonderful memories of my Mom, Auntie and my grandmother, who I called Dandy, taking Julianne, me and Eddie on short trips shopping in downtown Cincinnati, the Zoo, Coney Island or a swimming pool that used to be in Dayton, Kentucky called Tacoma Pool. We also used to go to Dave and Debs Roller Rink in Dayton Kentucky and then eat a hamburger and fries at the Avenue Cafe on Fairfield in Bellevue. There were some days we would go to Auntie's house or sometimes we would just all be at our house. Mom, Dandy and Auntie would make lunch and I'd play with Eddie. Some days we would go to Dandy's small apartment on Division Street in Bellevue. As my Mom had Monty and Tim they too came along.
My grandmother rented an apartment that was the second floor of Auntie's father-in-law's house. This living arrangement created a lot of confusion for a young boy with a limited view of the world. "If my grandma lives upstairs, then who are these people downstairs that I call grandma & grandpa? Can someone explain this to me? "
So Grandpa & Grandma Kuhr lived downstairs and Dandy lived upstairs. The Kuhr's son George, Auntie's husband, was somewhat older than she. I believe that he was about the same age as my grandmother. I always thought of Uncle George as an excentric guy that just wanted to be left alone to play with his toys. He was the only son of German speaking parents. He grew up speaking German. Uncle George had his own train set in the basement. He built one for Eddie, but Uncle George's was bigger and better. Uncle George played the piano and the tenor banjo, but would not discuss anything about music with a little boy nor would he play music. Uncle George took photographs and developed them too. He spent a lot of money on a Hi-fi set. Hi-fi was the format prior to stereo. Uncle George had amassed a large record collection of jazz and big bands that no one was allowed to listen to except for him. span>
Unfortunately Uncle George enjoyed chain smoking unfiltered Old Gold cigarettes. These were the kind of cigaretted that used to dance on TV. Unfortunately Old Gold's were what lead to his demise back in 1964. I can remember his funeral. I sat next to Eddie. Eddie spent his time playing with one of those puzzles that has numbers you move about until you get them lined up in order. I kept thinking the whole time, if my folks died, I wouldn't know what to do. I would be inconsolable. Eddie wasn't showing much emotion. I suppose puzzles are a great diversion under such circumstances. Perhaps that is the way he was dealing with the moment. After the service, we went to Auntie's house and we watched afternoon Monster movies on TV while the adults talked. Then we drove Uncle Eddie, Auntie and Mom's brother back to Cincinnati to catch the train home.
Although Auntie lived a long life, there were certainly plenty of obstacles. Auntie and Mom's father had passed away suddenly from being attacked by a rabid dog. Their father had tried to break up a dog fight and unfortunately did not pay attention to the bites he had suffered until he was much too ill to do anything about it.
I never got to meet my grandfather. I know that he was a dentist, which was considered good job, although in his day, he occasionally was paid in chickens or produce. These were depression years and money was scarce. He had money trouble lost the family home, went bankrupt and wound up moving his family in with his two older sisters. I am told this lead to family bickering which had it's effect on my mother, her brother, Auntie and my grandmother.
So Auntie married Uncle George. Uncle George did have an excellent job. He worked in the offices of the C&O Railroad, back in the day when rail travel was more popular than air travel. Auntie's brother, Eddie Lacock also worked for the C&O railroad, at their office in Louisville. I'm sure it was George's job that lead to his fascination with Lionel and H&O train sets.
George's father, Grandpa Kuhr was this stoic old German who arrived off the boat with his young wife just before the start of WWI. Neither he nor Grandma Kuhr said much to us kids. I'm sure they were anxious for us to leave Dandy's home, so peace and quiet would be restored.
Grandpa's marriage to Grandma Kuhr was an arranged marriage. It is sort of hard to believe that a mere 3 generations before my birth there were arranged marriage in supposedly a civilized country like Germany, but it's true. Grandpa Kuhr worked hard and saved up enough money to purchase his own taxicab. And he took excellent care of the cab. Grandma Kuhr was obliged to cook, clean, shop and wash for him. If she did not have the dinner on the table promptly at 5 PM every night and if the dinner was not hot, she would be severely scolded. The Kuhrs only spoke German at home. The scolding was in German, which is worse than being scolded in any other language, so I am told.
Now my grandmother's house had a mysterious door at the back of her bathroom. We were told, never under any circumstances were we to open that door. Well you can't tell a kid that. What do you think will happen? Behind the mystery door was this darkened room with an old desk and chair. I recall finding a marvelous pocket knife in one of the drawers. There was also a separate staircase in the back of the room that lead downstairs to Grandpa Kuhr's lower level. Thinking back on things, I imagine now that the room was probably full of Grandpa Kuhr's things.
After Uncle George passed away, Auntie lived off of his Railroad pension and insurance. She worked off and on at a small hospital in Dayton Kentucky called Speers Hospital. This is where I was born. Auntie had a job as a nurse aide. Life was probably difficult for her, but you would not know it. In retrospect, I think Eddie had a pretty good upbringing.
Eddie grew up and got older and met a girl. They got married and his girlfriend got pregnant. Eddie and Linda got married. After all it was the right thing. Their son was born while Linda and Eddie were living with Auntie. Within a year or so the marriage dissolved. Eddy's wife moved in with another man that already had some children and Linda did not want Eddie's kid hanging around, spoiling her new life. Once again,Eddie assumed he was doing the right thing by keeping his boy, but it seems like Auntie wound up really being the caregiver. And in my oppinion Auntie was much too old at the time to raise another child. We all know the rest of the story. Eddie's son is in prison in Eddyville Kentucky (how ironic is that?). By the way, Eddyville is not named after anyone named Eddie, Ed or Edward. It gets it's name because of it's location on the Ohio River. The section of the river that runs past the town has strong currents or eddies that were a navigation hazard during the days of river commerce and travel.
Throughout her life, Auntie suffered from a myriad of physical maladies. When she was very young she was struck by a car and her parents were told not to expect her to live too long. She proved those doctors wrong. Auntie seemed to average one surgery every couple of years. From my reckoning she is perhaps the first bionic woman. When Eddie was young, he spent several summers at my home while Auntie was in the hospital or home recuperating. I have seen Auntie when she was fat, skinny, fat and then skinny again. At her death, she was skinny.
When Uncle George was very sick, he was admitted to Lakeside nursing home and then transferred to a facility in Lexington. My Dad used to have to drive Auntie to Lexington and back. A chore he did not envy.
When Auntie moved to the nursing home my Dad took my Mother there for visits several times a week. Poor Dad worked hard all his life and did not envy the task of driving to that home. I don't know how many times he said to me, "That woman is going to outlive me!", and added a G-D for good measure. Well Dad, you were right.
I have no idea why I always called her Auntie. I supposed Aunt Annette was difficult to say when you are two or three. It caught on and became her nickname. I have no idea why Eddie still calls my Mother "Tee". I guess I one-upped him by naming Auntie before he had a chance at that name.
In recent years, I had ample opportunity to visit her. However she would not have known I was there. She has lost touch for the past five years. The years before that found me working far too much.
So Auntie has passed on from this life. I pray that she is in Heaven. And I hope her spirit is young again and that she is free from her old age, pain and illness. And I do hope she is welcomed by her Mother and Father that she has not seen for over 45 years and fervently hope may she be held in the bosom of Our Heavenly Father.
Autie has been residing in a nursing home since the mid 1990's. She had been taken to Jewish Hospital on October 7th because she had developed pneumonia. While she was there the doctors determined she had suffered a heart attack. Perhaps the pneumonia was congestive heart failure? Who knows?
Auntie responded to the antibiotics well enough to go back to the "extended care facility", however her son, Eddie was told by the medical staff that her condition was not good and not to expect her to be around much longer. She passed away in her sleep on October 22, 2007 at the age of 89, five months shy of her 90th birthday.
Auntie was a sweet and decent person. She has been my Mom's best friend from their early childhood days until the day she became incapacitated and couldn't remember anything or anyone.
I have wonderful memories of my Mom, Auntie and my grandmother, who I called Dandy, taking Julianne, me and Eddie on short trips shopping in downtown Cincinnati, the Zoo, Coney Island or a swimming pool that used to be in Dayton, Kentucky called Tacoma Pool. We also used to go to Dave and Debs Roller Rink in Dayton Kentucky and then eat a hamburger and fries at the Avenue Cafe on Fairfield in Bellevue. There were some days we would go to Auntie's house or sometimes we would just all be at our house. Mom, Dandy and Auntie would make lunch and I'd play with Eddie. Some days we would go to Dandy's small apartment on Division Street in Bellevue. As my Mom had Monty and Tim they too came along.
My grandmother rented an apartment that was the second floor of Auntie's father-in-law's house. This living arrangement created a lot of confusion for a young boy with a limited view of the world. "If my grandma lives upstairs, then who are these people downstairs that I call grandma & grandpa? Can someone explain this to me? "
So Grandpa & Grandma Kuhr lived downstairs and Dandy lived upstairs. The Kuhr's son George, Auntie's husband, was somewhat older than she. I believe that he was about the same age as my grandmother. I always thought of Uncle George as an excentric guy that just wanted to be left alone to play with his toys. He was the only son of German speaking parents. He grew up speaking German. Uncle George had his own train set in the basement. He built one for Eddie, but Uncle George's was bigger and better. Uncle George played the piano and the tenor banjo, but would not discuss anything about music with a little boy nor would he play music. Uncle George took photographs and developed them too. He spent a lot of money on a Hi-fi set. Hi-fi was the format prior to stereo. Uncle George had amassed a large record collection of jazz and big bands that no one was allowed to listen to except for him. span>
Unfortunately Uncle George enjoyed chain smoking unfiltered Old Gold cigarettes. These were the kind of cigaretted that used to dance on TV. Unfortunately Old Gold's were what lead to his demise back in 1964. I can remember his funeral. I sat next to Eddie. Eddie spent his time playing with one of those puzzles that has numbers you move about until you get them lined up in order. I kept thinking the whole time, if my folks died, I wouldn't know what to do. I would be inconsolable. Eddie wasn't showing much emotion. I suppose puzzles are a great diversion under such circumstances. Perhaps that is the way he was dealing with the moment. After the service, we went to Auntie's house and we watched afternoon Monster movies on TV while the adults talked. Then we drove Uncle Eddie, Auntie and Mom's brother back to Cincinnati to catch the train home.
Although Auntie lived a long life, there were certainly plenty of obstacles. Auntie and Mom's father had passed away suddenly from being attacked by a rabid dog. Their father had tried to break up a dog fight and unfortunately did not pay attention to the bites he had suffered until he was much too ill to do anything about it.
I never got to meet my grandfather. I know that he was a dentist, which was considered good job, although in his day, he occasionally was paid in chickens or produce. These were depression years and money was scarce. He had money trouble lost the family home, went bankrupt and wound up moving his family in with his two older sisters. I am told this lead to family bickering which had it's effect on my mother, her brother, Auntie and my grandmother.
So Auntie married Uncle George. Uncle George did have an excellent job. He worked in the offices of the C&O Railroad, back in the day when rail travel was more popular than air travel. Auntie's brother, Eddie Lacock also worked for the C&O railroad, at their office in Louisville. I'm sure it was George's job that lead to his fascination with Lionel and H&O train sets.
George's father, Grandpa Kuhr was this stoic old German who arrived off the boat with his young wife just before the start of WWI. Neither he nor Grandma Kuhr said much to us kids. I'm sure they were anxious for us to leave Dandy's home, so peace and quiet would be restored.
Grandpa's marriage to Grandma Kuhr was an arranged marriage. It is sort of hard to believe that a mere 3 generations before my birth there were arranged marriage in supposedly a civilized country like Germany, but it's true. Grandpa Kuhr worked hard and saved up enough money to purchase his own taxicab. And he took excellent care of the cab. Grandma Kuhr was obliged to cook, clean, shop and wash for him. If she did not have the dinner on the table promptly at 5 PM every night and if the dinner was not hot, she would be severely scolded. The Kuhrs only spoke German at home. The scolding was in German, which is worse than being scolded in any other language, so I am told.
Now my grandmother's house had a mysterious door at the back of her bathroom. We were told, never under any circumstances were we to open that door. Well you can't tell a kid that. What do you think will happen? Behind the mystery door was this darkened room with an old desk and chair. I recall finding a marvelous pocket knife in one of the drawers. There was also a separate staircase in the back of the room that lead downstairs to Grandpa Kuhr's lower level. Thinking back on things, I imagine now that the room was probably full of Grandpa Kuhr's things.
After Uncle George passed away, Auntie lived off of his Railroad pension and insurance. She worked off and on at a small hospital in Dayton Kentucky called Speers Hospital. This is where I was born. Auntie had a job as a nurse aide. Life was probably difficult for her, but you would not know it. In retrospect, I think Eddie had a pretty good upbringing.
Eddie grew up and got older and met a girl. They got married and his girlfriend got pregnant. Eddie and Linda got married. After all it was the right thing. Their son was born while Linda and Eddie were living with Auntie. Within a year or so the marriage dissolved. Eddy's wife moved in with another man that already had some children and Linda did not want Eddie's kid hanging around, spoiling her new life. Once again,Eddie assumed he was doing the right thing by keeping his boy, but it seems like Auntie wound up really being the caregiver. And in my oppinion Auntie was much too old at the time to raise another child. We all know the rest of the story. Eddie's son is in prison in Eddyville Kentucky (how ironic is that?). By the way, Eddyville is not named after anyone named Eddie, Ed or Edward. It gets it's name because of it's location on the Ohio River. The section of the river that runs past the town has strong currents or eddies that were a navigation hazard during the days of river commerce and travel.
Throughout her life, Auntie suffered from a myriad of physical maladies. When she was very young she was struck by a car and her parents were told not to expect her to live too long. She proved those doctors wrong. Auntie seemed to average one surgery every couple of years. From my reckoning she is perhaps the first bionic woman. When Eddie was young, he spent several summers at my home while Auntie was in the hospital or home recuperating. I have seen Auntie when she was fat, skinny, fat and then skinny again. At her death, she was skinny.
When Uncle George was very sick, he was admitted to Lakeside nursing home and then transferred to a facility in Lexington. My Dad used to have to drive Auntie to Lexington and back. A chore he did not envy.
When Auntie moved to the nursing home my Dad took my Mother there for visits several times a week. Poor Dad worked hard all his life and did not envy the task of driving to that home. I don't know how many times he said to me, "That woman is going to outlive me!", and added a G-D for good measure. Well Dad, you were right.
I have no idea why I always called her Auntie. I supposed Aunt Annette was difficult to say when you are two or three. It caught on and became her nickname. I have no idea why Eddie still calls my Mother "Tee". I guess I one-upped him by naming Auntie before he had a chance at that name.
In recent years, I had ample opportunity to visit her. However she would not have known I was there. She has lost touch for the past five years. The years before that found me working far too much.
So Auntie has passed on from this life. I pray that she is in Heaven. And I hope her spirit is young again and that she is free from her old age, pain and illness. And I do hope she is welcomed by her Mother and Father that she has not seen for over 45 years and fervently hope may she be held in the bosom of Our Heavenly Father.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Remembering Deb Smith by Marc O'Hara
I first met Deb when she went to the Cincinnati Bible Seminary. I was driving my old Plymouth Fury station wagon that had 4 snow tires. I picked up some friends at the Seminary and Deb was with them. After dropping her off I was told that she was Tom Smith's wife. I had only met Tom a couple of times, but I knew he was a campus minister at UC.
I did not meet her again until some folks got the idea to start a church on the UC campus. We were a bunch of raggedy looking students, young married folks and workers in our early 20's with the common goal of loving The Lord. These were the days of the Jesus Movement. We met for worship in the cafeteria. As word spread more people attended and the membership grew. We eventually moved to another building at UC. Tom signed on as full time minister and drew a salary.
We divided the members into smaller prayer groups. The group that Linny and I participated in was led by Tom and Deb. They were kind enough to open their home to us for meetings and dinners. Deb was generous to a fault and always a gracious host. We were young and a lot of the ladies looked to her as a role model. I
If memory serves me correctly Charity was about 3 or 4 years old during these days. She was one of the few toddlers in the church and a very precocious little girl. However there was about to be a baby boom.
As I mentioned we were young and some of us were married. One memory I have of Deb is the time we went to a "Marriage Encounter" weekend. I recall arriving at Deb and Tom's home, meeting my wife, who had arrived there earlier and then we all drove to a hotel in Springfield Ohio where the event was held. It was a great weekend.
These were also the days when the TV Show Saturday Night Live was new and funny. A bunch of us would arrive at the Smith home in Western Cincinnati to watch the show and have some fun.
I recall Tom had given Deb some puka beads as an anniversary present. Although I know 25 years is the Silver Anniversary, I am not sure which anniversary is puka.
Another memory is of Deb telling me about the vacation she and Tom took to Gatlinburg. Deb had her eye on a quilt that she spotted in a shop. She bartered with the shop owner and offered to trade a painting for the quilt. Deb made the 4 hour trip home to Cincinnati, grabbed the painting and drove 4 hours back to Gatlinburg and another 4 hours back to Cincy with her quilt. Mercy, we had stamina in those days.
We had gone on to become an official church. Fellowship Christian was born and to honor it many of the young wives, including Deb decided to give birth. I think Linda Cristiani was one of the first to deliver. I recall picking my Linny, who was also preggers, up from a baby shower. It might have been for Deb, who was pregnant with Nellie. The ladies were cooing over Linda's new arrival and dressing her up.
The babies finally arrived, my wife gave birth and my shoulders smelled of sour milk for the next couple of years. I remember visiting Deb when Nellie was born. My Rachael came along not too long after Nellie arrived.
Those were wonderful days and I bless them. I bless the fact that I knew Deb and briefly she was a part of my life. I was fortunate to know her in this world. And I know that I will meet her again in a place were there is no illness, disease or suffering. When I learned that Deb had bone cancer, I cringed because I am aware bone cancer is one of the most painful conditions that a person can endure.
I have reached a point in my life that some of those I love have been called home. I miss them so much. When they come to mind I treasure the memories of the time I had with those friends and family.
I did not meet her again until some folks got the idea to start a church on the UC campus. We were a bunch of raggedy looking students, young married folks and workers in our early 20's with the common goal of loving The Lord. These were the days of the Jesus Movement. We met for worship in the cafeteria. As word spread more people attended and the membership grew. We eventually moved to another building at UC. Tom signed on as full time minister and drew a salary.
We divided the members into smaller prayer groups. The group that Linny and I participated in was led by Tom and Deb. They were kind enough to open their home to us for meetings and dinners. Deb was generous to a fault and always a gracious host. We were young and a lot of the ladies looked to her as a role model. I
If memory serves me correctly Charity was about 3 or 4 years old during these days. She was one of the few toddlers in the church and a very precocious little girl. However there was about to be a baby boom.
As I mentioned we were young and some of us were married. One memory I have of Deb is the time we went to a "Marriage Encounter" weekend. I recall arriving at Deb and Tom's home, meeting my wife, who had arrived there earlier and then we all drove to a hotel in Springfield Ohio where the event was held. It was a great weekend.
These were also the days when the TV Show Saturday Night Live was new and funny. A bunch of us would arrive at the Smith home in Western Cincinnati to watch the show and have some fun.
I recall Tom had given Deb some puka beads as an anniversary present. Although I know 25 years is the Silver Anniversary, I am not sure which anniversary is puka.
Another memory is of Deb telling me about the vacation she and Tom took to Gatlinburg. Deb had her eye on a quilt that she spotted in a shop. She bartered with the shop owner and offered to trade a painting for the quilt. Deb made the 4 hour trip home to Cincinnati, grabbed the painting and drove 4 hours back to Gatlinburg and another 4 hours back to Cincy with her quilt. Mercy, we had stamina in those days.
We had gone on to become an official church. Fellowship Christian was born and to honor it many of the young wives, including Deb decided to give birth. I think Linda Cristiani was one of the first to deliver. I recall picking my Linny, who was also preggers, up from a baby shower. It might have been for Deb, who was pregnant with Nellie. The ladies were cooing over Linda's new arrival and dressing her up.
The babies finally arrived, my wife gave birth and my shoulders smelled of sour milk for the next couple of years. I remember visiting Deb when Nellie was born. My Rachael came along not too long after Nellie arrived.
Those were wonderful days and I bless them. I bless the fact that I knew Deb and briefly she was a part of my life. I was fortunate to know her in this world. And I know that I will meet her again in a place were there is no illness, disease or suffering. When I learned that Deb had bone cancer, I cringed because I am aware bone cancer is one of the most painful conditions that a person can endure.
I have reached a point in my life that some of those I love have been called home. I miss them so much. When they come to mind I treasure the memories of the time I had with those friends and family.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Remembering Deb Smith by Linny O'Hara
I Remember Deb ~ Linny O'Hara
I will always remember Debbie's smile. Her laugh was soft, her eyes sparkled with life and good will. A dear daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, writer, crafter, and true Christian saint, Deb died the way she lived: with love, forgiveness, courage, and heroic faith, singing the praises of her GOD and Savior, JESUS Christ! She was a true friend, steady rock, and down-to-earth role model. Though the earth is silent with the loss of a great voice for Christ, I still, though tears, must rejoice in Deb's final and forever victory over pain and death.
Debbie passed away peacefully in her sleep after a long battle with inoperable cancer. She was 54.
+ + +
Psalm 34:18-19
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed.
Many are the troubles of the just, but the LORD delivers from them all.
God watches over all their bones; not a one shall be broken.
Psalm 62: 1-2My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.(NIV)
Psalm 94: 18-19If I say , "My foot slips,"Your mercy , O Lord, will hold me up.In the multitude of my anxieties within me,Your comforts delight my soul."
Revelation 211 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."6 And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment."
I will always remember Debbie's smile. Her laugh was soft, her eyes sparkled with life and good will. A dear daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, writer, crafter, and true Christian saint, Deb died the way she lived: with love, forgiveness, courage, and heroic faith, singing the praises of her GOD and Savior, JESUS Christ! She was a true friend, steady rock, and down-to-earth role model. Though the earth is silent with the loss of a great voice for Christ, I still, though tears, must rejoice in Deb's final and forever victory over pain and death.
Debbie passed away peacefully in her sleep after a long battle with inoperable cancer. She was 54.
+ + +
Psalm 34:18-19
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed.
Many are the troubles of the just, but the LORD delivers from them all.
God watches over all their bones; not a one shall be broken.
Psalm 62: 1-2My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.(NIV)
Psalm 94: 18-19If I say , "My foot slips,"Your mercy , O Lord, will hold me up.In the multitude of my anxieties within me,Your comforts delight my soul."
Revelation 211 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."6 And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment."
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
We Are One In The Spirit, We Are One In The Lord
Reverend Peter Scholtes was a Roman Catholic Priest and songwriter. Perhaps he was best known as the composer of the title tune which went beyond its mainline roots to become the banner song of the Jesus movement . I've been told that he wrote They'll Know We Are Christians for an event at his parish in the early 1960's. It appeared on this recording sponsored by his congregation.Despite that tune’s popularity this South Side Chicago reverend’s lp remains relatively unknown. Not so much a solo lp as a collection of his songs performed by members of his congregation.
Tracks:
01. They'll Know We Are Christians
02. Take My Hand
03. Choose Life
04. There Once Was A Man
05. Lord Have Mercy - Missa Bossa Nova
06. Glory To God - Missa Bossa Nova
07. Holy, Holy - Missa Bossa Nova
08. Our Father - Missa Bossa Nova
09. Lamb Of God - Missa Bossa Nova
10. Open Up The Boxes
11. The Lord Bless You
12. Glory Be To Israel
13. Shout And Clap Your Hands
14. We Gather Together
15. Lord Have Mercy - Mass of 67th Street
16. Holy, Holy - Mass of 67th Street
17. Lamb Of God - Mass Of 67th Street
The title song They'll Know We are Christians is based on John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Prior to the Jesus Movement, the Roman Catholic Church was introducing The Guitar Mass, which more than likely aided the impetus of this song.
I cannot find too much from a historical background on the tune. I do know that it was published by a group called F.E.L Music with a copyright date of 1966. F.E.L. was a publisher of religious songs and sheet music. They filed suit against the Diocese of Chicago in 1982. F.E.L. Publications. Ltd. v. Catholic Bishop of Chicago, 214 U.S.P.Q. (ENA) 409, 412 (7th Cir. 1982). This became a landmark case in copyright law.
In 1991 the copyright was assigned to Lorenz Publications which is another publisher of religious sheet music and choral arrangements.
Reverend Peter Scholtes is sometimes mistaken for some other authors that have the same name.
I am thankful that he allowed God to let him be a vessel at a time when we needed this song.
Some parts of this post were excerpted from the Ancient Star Song blog by Ken Scott
Friday, October 05, 2007
Deb Smith
Although I haven't seen Deb in perhaps 20 years, I value the friendship and example that she set for me and my wife. Deb is truly a Titus 2 woman. Deb has been a student, wife ( and the wife of a pastor, which should qualify her for sainthood), mother, friend to so many and a grandmother, although she is still a young woman.
Deb is very ill and is in the final stages of bone cancer. She is in a great deal of pain. Please pray for her. May you give her comfort and peace Oh Lord Our God. And may the Peace that passes all understanding be in the hearts and minds of those that surround her.
We Love You Oh Lord Almighty.
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