Author: jubileeschool-admin

After about 2 weeks of fall break, classes start again from today.

The Student Affairs Office said in an interview: “Students have had enough rest and review time after midterm exams during the break period this fall, so they are currently in very good academic condition. There will be almost no academic gap due to the break.”

The break period this year was much longer than the previous year. The students’ academic balance could have been broken if they were wrong, but this did not happen due to the careful consideration of the professors.

The reason this break lasted longer than the previous year is that the annual Global Christian Education Summit was held in South Korea this year. Most of the school’s faculty and staff attend this meeting. And especially this year, students also participated as staff.

In addition, since the school development seminar was held immediately after that, a sufficient break period was needed compared to the previous year.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said, ‘All schedules up to the seminar went smoothly, and a progressive agenda and measures were adopted during this period.’

The 2023 Jubilee School agenda and plans will be announced soon.

Fall break starts about 2 weeks from today.

The annual ‘Global Christian Education Summit’ is scheduled to be held in South Korea this year, so this fall break is much longer than the previous year.

Students who have just completed the midterm exam are able to rest and reorganize themselves during this period, expressing considerable anticipation for this fall break.

From the point of view of the school’s management, this period is very important. During this period, the school seeks and decides on the agenda and development plan of next year’s Jubilee School according to the direction and plan determined by the ‘GCES’.

Jubilee School wishes students, professors, and all employees a fall break this year full of the Lord’s blessings and peace.

On September 9th, the final exam period began at the same time as all classes in the summer quarter ended. Faculty and students gave thanks and glory to God for the successful completion of this summer quarter with one mind through the closing worship service.

Also, the Fall Quarter Orientation was held today on the 12th. Following the opening service, introductions of courses and faculty followed. And finally, there was a brief briefing on the school life of the student council.

Jubilee School dedicates the first hour of the fall quarter to God, praying for abundant academic achievement in the Lord.

Contributed by A. Merril Smoak, Jr., Dean of the Jubilee School

If you Google the adjective “abandoned” you will find two definitions:

1. having been deserted or cast off – “an abandoned car”
2. unrestrained; uninhibited – “a wild, abandoned dance”

This article will reflect on the second definition as it relates to the Old Testament story of King David recorded in 2 Samuel, chapter 6.

The phrase “a wild, abandoned dance” immediately reminds us of the story of King David dancing before the Lord as the Ark of the Covenant is brought into the ancient city of Jerusalem. His dancing before the Lord can certainly be described as “unrestrained” and “uninhibited.” This celebration event is recorded in chapter 6 of 2 Samuel. Here are the key verses:

5 David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, …

14 Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, 15 while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.

16 As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.

21 David said to Michal, “… I will celebrate before the Lord. 22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.”

This was a joyous event that demanded a huge celebration. The Ark of God, the box overlaid with gold that contained the original Ten Commandment stone tablets, was being brought into David’s city Jerusalem. King David led the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the celebration by dancing before the Lord “with all his might.” This phrase “with all his might” suggests that the King was “unrestrained” and “uninhibited” in his dance before the Lord. It was a “wild, abandoned dance.”

That David was not intimidated or worried about what others thought of his dancing is reflected in his response to the criticism by Saul’s daughter Michal. Notice his twofold response to Michal’s criticism:

1. “It was before the Lord” and “I will celebrate before the Lord”
2. “I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.”

His dancing was worship directed to God during this time of celebration. He was not concerned with what others thought about his worship actions. Reflecting on this story worship leader Matt Redman shares these thoughts:

Going back to that day in Jerusalem, the dancing King David was totally consumed with God and unaware of himself. He didn’t care who was watching or what they might think. He was an adoring heart, worshipping with all his might.

That’s what King David’s frenzied dancing was all about. It wasn’t a show; nor was it just adrenaline or hype. It was an overflow of the abundance of love for God that was in his heart.^[1]

Amen!

But we must also remember that King David was leading in worship. His wild abandoned dance before the Lord was an example for others to follow. Are you a worship leader? Do you lead a group of people in singing praises to God? Please remember that people are watching and hopefully following your worship actions.

Will our worship this coming Sunday be an overflow of the abundance of love for God that is in our hearts?[2] Maybe we should follow David’s example and think about these adjectives as we prepare for worship this coming Sunday:

unrestrained & uninhibited – “a wild, abandoned dance”

May all of our worship be like this “with all our might.”

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• ^{[1] Redman, Matt, The Unquenchable Worshipper: Coming Back to the Heart of Worship (Ventura: Regal Books, 2001), 47.?}
• ^{[2] Ibid.?}

Contributed by A. Merril Smoak, Jr., Dean of the Jubilee School

If you Google the adjective “abandoned” you will find two definitions:

1. having been deserted or cast off – “an abandoned car”
2. unrestrained; uninhibited – “a wild, abandoned dance”

This article will examine the first definition of “abandoned” as it relates to hymns, praise choruses, and contemporary praise & worship music. Abandoned: Part 2 will examine the second definition of “abandoned” as it relates to the Old Testament story of King David found in 2 Samuel, chapter 6.

In thinking about the word “abandoned” in relation to our Christian hymns I wrote these words back in 1988:

Growing numbers of our congregations are abandoning the hymnal and singing only praise choruses; others use a combination of both. Are these praise choruses merely a passing fad, or are some of them destined to become a part of our hymnic repertoire?^[1]

Yes, during the 1970’s and 1980’s there was a growing trend in worship music to “abandon” and “cast off” the use of traditional hymns and replace them with praise choruses and the emerging contemporary praise & worship songs. This trend was both good and unfortunate. In a good way praise choruses such as “Seek Ye First” (1972), “Jesus, Name Above All Names” (1974), “Glorify Thy Name” (1976), and “In My Life, Lord, Be Glorified” (1978) ushered in a refreshing musical change for the youth and young adults that were becoming Christians. Accompanied by acoustic guitars these simple praise choruses were often based upon scripture and were easy to learn. In the 1980’s the praise & worship movement got its start with familiar worship songs such as “Majesty” (1981), “How Majestic Is Your Name” (1981), and culminated in 1989 with “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High.” These new praise & worship songs were also a refreshing musical change that helped us re-focus our attention on the importance of worship. This change continued into the 1990’s with popular contemporary praise & worship songs such as “Shout to the Lord” (1994). Unfortunately, in many places of worship, our rich treasury of traditional hymns and gospel hymns were abandoned for the new praise choruses and contemporary worship music. It was even suggested in some locations that your church would not grow if you did not replace hymn singing with these new worship songs.

In reality, hymns were never totally abandoned. Some churches in the 1980’s and 1990’s continued to sing only hymns while some churches blended together the singing of hymns, praise choruses, and contemporary praise & worship songs. But a change was coming that would breathe new life into abandoned hymns. Contemporary worship leaders such as David Crowder and Chris Tomlin began to arrange and record hymns in the new contemporary praise & worship musical style. Here are some examples:

• “Come Thou Fount”
• David Crower, “All I Can Say” album (1999)
• “The Wonderful Cross (When I survey the wondrous cross)”

Chris Tomlin, “The Noise We Make” album (2001)

• “All Creatures of Our God and King”

David Crowder, “Can You Hear Us? album (2002)

• “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)”

Chris Tomlin, “See the Morning” album (2006)

These hymns were revived with new chords, musical refrains (bridges), and worship band accompaniment. Today one of the most popular and often sung revived hymns is Edward Mote’s (1797-1874) early 19th century hymn “My hope is built on nothing less” also known by the title “The Solid Rock”:

• “Cornerstone (My hope is built on nothing less)”
• Hillsong Worship, “Cornerstone” album (2012)

Unfortunately, the praise choruses of the 1970’s and the early praise & worship songs of the 1980’s have largely passed from common use in today’s worship services. Although, these worship songs are very much remembered and cherished by the Baby Boomer generation. There is one praise & worship song from the 1980’s that is still being sung today by Christians around the world: “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High”^[2] published by Maranatha Music in 1989 has not been abandoned. I believe that this worship song has not been cast off because the lyrics clearly state the Gospel story of Jesus, our Lord and Savior:

You came from heaven to earth to show the way,
From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay,
From the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky,
Lord I lift Your name on high.^[3]
Amen!

Here is another reality. There is no need to “abandon” or “cast off” traditional hymns, praise choruses, or contemporary praise & worship songs for new types and styles of worship songs that will be written in the future. As worship leaders today we have the joy and opportunity to choose the best of these worship song genres and lead our people in lifting the Lord’s name on high. May we sing with “unrestrained” and “uninhibited” abandonment to our Lord!

Lord I lift Your name on high,
Lord I love to sing Your praises,
I’m so glad You’re in my life,
I’m so glad You came to save us.^[4]

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• ^{[1] Smoak, Jr., A. Merril, “From the Gospel hymn to the Praise Chorus: Considerations for the New Baptist Hymnal,” Southern Baptist Music Journal, Volume, 5, 1988.?}
• ^{[2] Founds, Rick, Lord, I Lift Your Name on High, Maranatha Music, 1989.?}
• ^{[3] Ibid.?}
• ^{[4] Ibid.?}

The 2022 summer song camp schedule has been announced. This summer song camp will be held from August 8th to 19th, excluding weekends and Sundays.

The song camp schedule will be delivered to Jubilee School graduates and current students for two days today and tomorrow, and applications for participation are accepted until August 5.

Many gracious songs have been made over the years through Song Camp. Now, a foothold in another dimension of music mission is being built. A good example is the Worship Album Project, which is being conducted jointly by the Chapel Worship Band, the School, and the Jubilee Church Worship Band.

We hope that great quality Christian songs will be created through this song camp as well.

The 2022 Summer quarter started with orientation on 5th July.

Although the number of subjects and students in the summer quarter is relatively small compared to other quarters, it is held with various events every year, showing more exciting activities than any other quarter.

As of this year, the summer song camp will be held during the summer quarter. In addition, various evangelistic activities of the Chapel Worship Band are also planned, raising expectations for the activity.

Summer heat is getting warmer. However, Jubilee School’s heat of praise will swallow up all that heat.

The Fourth of July—also known as Independence Day or July 4th—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 to the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues. The Fourth of July 2022 is on Monday, July 4, 2022.

History of Independence Day
When the initial battles in the Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, few colonists desired complete independence from Great Britain, and those who did were considered radical.

By the middle of the following year, however, many more colonists had come to favor independence, thanks to growing hostility against Britain and the spread of revolutionary sentiments such as those expressed in the bestselling pamphlet “Common Sense,” published by Thomas Paine in early 1776.

On June 7, when the Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House (later Independence Hall) in Philadelphia, the Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion calling for the colonies’ independence.

Amid heated debate, Congress postponed the vote on Lee’s resolution, but appointed a five-man committee—including Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New York—to draft a formal statement justifying the break with Great Britain.

On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of Lee’s resolution for independence in a near-unanimous vote (the New York delegation abstained, but later voted affirmatively). On that day, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that July 2 “will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival” and that the celebration should include “Pomp and Parade…Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other.”

On July 4th, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, which had been written largely by Jefferson. Though the vote for actual independence took place on July 2nd, from then on the 4th became the day that was celebrated as the birth of American independence.

Excerpt from ‘history.com’

All classes for the 2022 Spring Quarter ended on June 15th. Then, from June 16th to 22nd, the final exam period began.

This spring quarter was not an easy period for academics and school management. This is because the overall Covid infection rate was on the rise again. However, due to the strict observance of quarantine principles by students and faculty, this quarter was successfully completed without a single confirmed case among students and faculty.

In response, the dean delivered a message of gratitude to all the students and faculty, and urged them to do their best for the rest of the final exam period and reap the beauty of their lives.

Summer Quarter begins soon. There are students who enjoy vacation in the Summer Quarter, but the Christian Song Camp and concerts of professors and students are scheduled to take place in addition to their studies, so the anticipation is rising from now on.