Category: Columns

Categories
Columns

An Echo in the Darkness

Written By: Julia Collins (’26)

Last month, we left off reading A Voice in the Wind, Francine Rivers’ first book of the Mark of the Lion series. This week, we will be looking at the second book in the trilogy, An Echo in the Darkness!

Hadassah, a young Christian girl from Jerusalem sold into slavery in Rome, has survived a brutal attack after being betrayed by her master, Julia Valerian. Hadassah was rescued by a doctor, Alexander, who she begins to assist in his medical jobs. Personality wise, Hadassah is the same, but since the attack, she has scarring on her face that makes her almost unrecognizable (I say “almost” because she IS recognized- more on that later). Julia, meanwhile, is sick- actually, more than sick, terminally ill from an STD. She is in a relationship with a man who doesn’t love her, and she is neglected by her friends. No one likes her, and she keeps getting sicker. But then she meets a servant who loves her and cares for her. What Julia doesn’t realize is that this servant is Hadassah! Although Hadassah was recognized by Julia’s now-Christian mother, Phoebe, Julia does not know that her new servant was the girl she had sent off to be killed! 

Meanwhile, Hadassah’s almost-boyfriend/crush, Marcus Valerian, thinks she’s dead, and he is heartbroken. To get closer to the memory of Hadassah, he goes to Jerusalem, and is eventually converted to Christianity. He eventually goes back to Rome after sensing that God wants him to go see Julia and forgive her for sending Hadassah to be killed. However, Marcus struggles with how to forgive. With his mother being sick, he blames Julia for not being with her. When he and Julia finally see each other again, things are bad. Can the two of them get along again?

The ending of this book, which I will not reveal myself, is a good wrap-up on the lives of Hadassah and the Valerians. The journey that the four main characters go through shows early Christianity, and how it impacted people’s lives in unexpected ways and through interesting people. ★

Categories
Columns

Jordan Peele Spotlight

Written By: Caleb Tiedemann (’25)

Jordan Peele is a name many people know. Perhaps not associated with his films but rather due to his comedy sketches with his good friend Keegan-Michael Key. The two appeared as the comedic Key and Peele with various SNL skits that originally prompted them to fame. But comedy reaches only so far, and Peele wanted to do more with his writing talents. Thus, he began writing and creating movies in an effort to “expose the “lie” of post-racial America.” Through this, Peele not only casts very talented African American actors and actresses, but he also steers clear of the “black guy dies first trope.” Each of his movies has a message behind it – one that needs to be deciphered through his magnificent writing. After watching the movies multiple times, I still have not discovered every single detail, yet that is what continually brings me back to his films – the message (Spoilers for all of Jordan Peele’s movies beyond this point).

His first film, Get Out, released in 2017 to much critical acclaim as it explores the race relations between a Caucasian family’s daughter who brings home her African American boyfriend. Built from the very beginning with tense foundations, Get Out exposes the clash of cultures, lifestyles, and racial differences. The psychological horror element is on full display as the Armitage family attempts to take over and use Chris’s body; virtually enslaving him. The most positive aspect of this movie is its atmosphere. The tensions are dialed up to 100, but Peele keeps you guessing. He maintains the 0-20 range with ease, and then, out of nowhere, it spikes! And when it does… man, your heart starts beating, and blood starts pumping. The plot is very odd, but it’s unique, and the movie operates as more of a thriller than actual horror. The score is very reminiscent of John Carpenter’s Halloween with the tense build-up and spike of music. The message received from this movie is the desire, specifically in earlier America, but possibly in modern-day, to possess the African American body. 

Jordan Peele’s second film, Us, was released in 2019 and praised as a great horror thriller. I tend to agree; while Get Out works on a psychological level, Us works on a more personable horror level. It’s far more bloody and violent as the Shadows (Clones) of every person finally break from their underground prison and take revenge on their counterparts above. The general theme of Us is that there are clones of every human trapped beneath the surface of the Earth, copying the movements and experiences of everyone above. When one of these “shadows” traps a human girl and switches places with her, living her life, the human leads the rest of the Shadows on a brutal killing spree across the globe. This “spree” is exactly what makes Us more terrifying. In Get Out, the Armitage family did not necessarily want to hurt Chris – he was a good product. They wanted to replace him and use him. The entire movie operated on a less scary and more thrilling premise. Us is scary because the good directly mirrors the bad and vice versa. Peele perfectly encapsulates the feeling of being hunted and trying to survive. Us boasts a stellar cast of all ages with a wonderful score/soundtrack and some good classic horror tropes. Peele’s intended message is a more complicated one involving a bit more thought. One of the first things that is explored is the class division between the richer and poorer and the classic “money doesn’t buy happiness” cliche. The second message is one of isolation and how the isolation of communities such as the rich and poor can contribute to an “us vs. them” mentality. Upon my first watch, I had trouble connecting the two, but upon my second viewing, I was able to navigate Peele’s careful insinuations. The Shadows refer to themselves as “tethered” to their above-ground clones, and only when they cut those tethers are they set free. This commentary seems to insinuate that society is often “tethered” to certain things that cause division among people who could just as easily be our friends but are rather portrayed as enemies. 

His third and most recent movie, Nope, was released in 2022 and follows the same lines of being another thriller type of horror film. It, again, released to much praise, and I even got the chance to see it in theaters. The best aspect about Nope is the unknown. Nope is more of a creature feature than anything else, and therein is where the commentary lies. The movie boasts a strong cast, with each member holding their own, as well as some net-level impressive cinematography and score. The sound design alone should have won this movie an Oscar, and though it was nominated, it did not win. When strange occurrences happen on Haywood ranch, OJ and Em look to the clouds to discover a large alien UFO hiding within. They quickly learn that the “saucer” is animalistic; it hunts at night, flying over the valleys and abducting horses from the ranch, and as the plot progresses, it becomes more and more active. The sound design on the saucer was where the technical aspects shined the brightest. The fading of the whooshing and screams from within the saucer were truly bone-chilling. At one point, a nearby amusement park attempts to set free a horse for the saucer to abduct for the viewing pleasure of an audience. It goes all wrong, however, when the saucer instead abducts all the viewers and kills them. From that point forward, the UFO rejects being “tamed” and treated as a spectacle and becomes more active and territorial. This scene is essential to understanding the core message or, more accurately, a keyword within the movie. Spectacle. Each facet of this movie revolves around animals in the entertainment industry. The Haywood ranch specializes in training horses, a brief subplot features a trained chimpanzee that went berserk on an old television show, and an attempt to control the UFO all act as a message to watchers about “spectacle.” We often do not think about the live animals used in films – trained animals to entertain and enthrall audiences. But Peele’s message is clear: wild animals are not to be domesticated. The movie-making industry is very exploitative and attempts to make the impossible possible, but Peele offers up a counter-question: “What happens when you try to domesticate nature?” Nature is not meant to be tamed or controlled and lashes out in multiple ways and forms throughout this film. Unsurprisingly, Nope is another magnificent commentary on the entertainment industry, with both old and new being applicable.

Jordan Peele is one of the newer faces in the movie-making industry and has already made an interesting and provocative name for himself. I eagerly look forward to his next projects hoping for deeper exploration and commentary on societal norms or stereotypes. Hopefully, I have given everyone reading a couple of movies to look into and enjoy themselves. 

Get Out- 9/10

Us- 10/10

Nope- 10/10

Categories
Columns

Barbenheimer Review

Kat Wojsiat ('24) and Caleb Tiedemann ('25)

Now, normally, movie reviews are Caleb’s thing. However, the Barbie review obviously had to be written by a woman, so here I am. The Barbie movie, directed by Greta Gerwig, took the world by storm this summer. I spent the summer interning in London, where there was a Barbie pink telephone booth on the bank of the Thames River for a week! I have never seen such astounding, impressive, and overpowering marketing as I have with this movie. It did wonders for the color pink. It brought a sense of community to all women in a way that was desperately needed after the division brought on by quarantine- and yes, I did get dressed up in pink to go watch it.

While in the movie, I was thoroughly entertained. I thought it was cute, hilarious, and very enjoyable. The set was highly impressive, the acting was great, and the plot was fascinating. However, the more I reflected on the movie, the more problems I found. The plot, however, had a few holes (how on earth did a grown woman dressed as a pink cowgirl just walk into a school?!), and I think that America Ferreira’s speech did not live up to its potential- that is just a personal opinion, though. But my biggest problem with this movie is actually quite controversial- I think it was rather anti-feminist. Hear me out! In Barbieland, men basically hold the position that women did just a few decades ago. The Kens aren’t even allowed to have houses to sleep in! After the Kens try to earn some equal treatment (and unfortunately take it too far), instead of trying to find some middle ground of equality, the Barbies’ response is just, “You are Kenough.” They aren’t even allowed to have representation in the Supreme Court! If the beg for equality between men and women had no further outcome than “you’re enough” in the real world, I wouldn’t even be allowed to write this review right now! (And yes, I understand that it took many attempts and centuries to get to where we are today, but keep in mind that Barbieland is meant to be a perfect world.) I think the movie had a chance to express feminism in a real and meaningful way to those not impacted by it, and it missed that opportunity. Other than these few shortcomings, I think the movie was a great experience and an excellent performance by all (especially Michael Cera as Allen!)

Barbie: 7/10

Oppenheimer is nothing short of a masterpiece. Christopher Nolan delivers in every possible way. This movie was my first ever IMAX experience, and WOW, what a picture! From start to finish, Nolan thrusts you into the harrowing stress of Oppenheimer’s mind. His obsessions, his passions, his regrets, his sadness, and all of his deepest emotions are on display for the audience to see. Cillian Murphy plays Robert J. Oppenheimer and gives an awe-inspiring performance. There is so much conveyed in his silence, his blank stares, and his remorseful mannerisms. Robert Downey Jr. plays Lewis Strauss, and also gives an excellent performance, rivaling Murphy’s quiet genius with vengeful jealousy. Nolan managed to make every single actor bare their heart and soul on this screen. Very few movies impact me the way that this did. The contrast of joy from the masses happy that the war ended against the realization of the evil that was created by the atom bomb. This contrast of morality and ethics is where the movie truly shines. 

Never before have I understood and related on an emotional level the catastrophe and horror of an atomic weapon. This movie has some of the best camerawork ever. The editing is stellar- the pasting together and switching perspectives on a dime encapsulates a feeling of stress and anxiety. Ludwig Goransson’s score permeates every single scene. It is loud and prominent, and it raises the tension and stakes to the max. The contrast of color and black and white gave a whole new layer to the film; it added to the political game and power plays that get used to achieve such devastating power. The juxtaposition of color and passion in such a project that would help win the war contrasted with the black-and-white harsh reality of its after effects drove certain elements home harder than Nolan had any right to. The mere fact that any government has these weapons at their ready and can start a war or annihilate millions in a matter of seconds is horrifying. This movie masters every single technical aspect in a way that I do not think I have ever seen before. I very strongly encourage everyone to see this film as it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will leave you thinking about the morality, the ethics, and the philosophy behind such a weapon. 

Oppenheimer: 10/10

Categories
Columns

Review- “A Voice in the Wind”

Julia Collins '26

Hello again, dear readers!

This semester, my idea was to read some of the books from the Houghton Library and review them! 

My first book that I’ll be reviewing is “A Voice in the Wind” by Francine Rivers. This book is an older one, but it has a good message and a bit of a historical background on the early Christians. 

“A Voice in the Wind” is the first of three books set in the decades following Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection. The story starts in Jerusalem, with a girl named Hadassah. Hadassah’s entire family have been killed by the persecution from the Romans, and Hadassah is expected to die as well. Yet, she survives, and is then sent to Rome to be a slave. 

In Rome, a slave named Enoch convinces his master, Decimus Valerian, to buy seven jewish slaves, including Hadassah. Decimus doesn’t want to do this, but his wife, Phoebe, has pity for Hadassah, knowing she will suffer more if they do not take her. So, Decimus and Phoebe decide that Hadassah will be the servant of their teenage daughter, Julia. 

Julia quickly realizes that she can trust Hadassah, who is kind and gentle to her. But Julia makes many bad decisions, and Hadassah has to suffer for Julia’s mistakes. While all of this is going on, Julia’s brother, Marcus, finds himself attracted to Hadassah. He sees that Hadassah is a good servant, and that she has something that everyone around him didn’t have- a faith in a loving God. Throughout the story, Marcus is torn between loving Hadassah, and loving the sinful culture of Rome. Hadassah, meanwhile, tries to teach the Valerian family about Jesus, and his love for them. At the end of the book, the reader will find out if she succeeds, or if the Valerian’s will reject her and her faith. ★

Categories
Columns

It is all in God’s Hands

By Rebecca Dailey

College is perhaps the most formative four years of any person’s life. For some, it is a chance at freedom; for others, it is a continuation of their schooling. However, I believe all of us can agree that this is the final gateway before adulthood. High school is the stepping stone before that, one last hurrah as teenagers, even as we pursue colleges, enter applications and scholarships, and perhaps hold part-time jobs. Many of us became caught up in the unknown variable of COVID-19, forever changing the way we look at our schooling. I graduated high school in the class of 2021, and the next stop on the train route was community college. 


Community College was not my first choice, but at the time, I didn’t see any other option. I was not able to look at college campuses, nor did I really want to, simply because I wanted my high school experience to have ended normally. God, however, had a much more interesting plan. After some last-minute scrambling, my school-issued email decided to shut down, so I missed a lot of important messages, including knowing the bill was ready to be paid. That first fall semester was spent online in mostly asynchronous classes and a few Zoom meetings where I feigned attention while working on other assignments. The spring semester of the same school year was much the same, with the exception of one class. Even then, the teacher, more often than not, would cancel classes, and I taught myself anyway. 

The second year came, and for the first time in almost three years, I was able to step foot in a physical classroom. I became frustrated by the lack of application my classmates had when it came to assignments. Due dates would often get extended while I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, having stayed up the night before. Perhaps the biggest nightmare was my children’s literature professor. He made it very clear how he felt about religion, especially Christianity. He enraged me, and I passive-aggressively protested and made my position clear. It was around the same time that I began looking for four-year schools to continue my degree. Fast forward through four in-person classes in the spring and waiting for them to mail my physical degree in the mail, I was more than happy to be finished. I didn’t even bother going to graduation, nor did I get involved around campus. I didn’t even stay in the dorms, but even nightmares come to an end. 

Houghton University was one of a handful of colleges I had considered. Some very quickly lost their place on the list for various reasons. I looked at one other campus, but none of it sat right. Stepping onto Houghton’s campus was the most surreal moment I’ve ever had. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, greeted me and dozens of others who were touring the campus. I was barely home that very same weekend and put my application in; Houghton was the only school I put an application in for. 
We can fast forward to right now as I write this as the semester begins. It has been a whirlwind of classes and new friends, and I couldn’t wish any other way. I have so far joined multiple clubs, took part in the Open Mic Night at Java, auditioned for HeartSong, bonded with the girls on my floor and throughout Gillette, still have time for homework, and I’m thriving. Every day is a new adventure with new friends and excitement. I once wrote in my application essay, “Every story has a purpose, but that purpose can only be acted upon when it is read and shared, creating the world of possibilities that I believed God wanted for us.” The possibilities are extraordinary because they are endless, but God knows, After all, he brought me here, and I can’t wait to see what he has for all of us. ★

Categories
Columns

Review: DC’s The Flash

By Caleb Tiedemann

It’s no particular surprise that DC is on its last legs. We (the viewers) are stuck trekking through the sludge of what needs to be thrust out. Being an avid Justice League fan, I was very excited to see the first movie outing for the Flash. He has always been a fun character to see in various media. However, upon watching, I was left disappointed. The Flash is just messy. It has some good ideas, but they don’t play out well. The explanation of time travel makes no sense and seems rushed, thrown together and it greatly upsets the movie’s flow. The computer-generated imagery (CGI) is horrendous! Mostly everything that used CG or a green screen just looked ugly. The script has some fun jokes and gags, but is also, in some areas, simplistic and has lines that feel completely isolated from the movie. Reprising his 1989 Batman role is Michael Keaton and though there is some nostalgia in Keaton’s “Let’s Get Nuts” line (a line from the original movie), it feels so tossed in and completely out of place in the actual film. It serves no purpose other than a nostalgic cash grab. One of the few things holding this movie together is Ezra Miller, who proves to be incredibly talented as an actor. Despite the many controversies that have come up within the last couple of years, it is very surprising that this movie even came out! Despite that, the chemistry between the two Barry’s (Miller) is unreal for a single actor playing two different versions of the same guy. Michael Keaton as Batman continues to be amazing and acts as the real star of this Flash-centered movie. Sasha Calle as Superman (Supergirl?) serves almost no purpose in this movie. She gives a very bland and forgettable performance. A big win is Danny Elfman’s score making a return. The movie does have some good humor and a touching plot, but it is held together by the tiniest of threads. It feels like there were too many ideas that just did not fit, which makes the entire thing come off as incoherent. With James Gunn taking charge of DC, perhaps we will finally get a well-thought-out and more complexly written narrative. However, until the first movie comes out…★

Categories
Columns

Into the Woods Review

by Kat Wojsiat

I had the pleasure of seeing Houghton University’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods twice! Director Amanda Cox did something a little different and split the cast so that many roles had two actors, and I wanted to see and compare both casts. 

Both did an amazing job, and it was fun to see each actor put their own spin on their character. For those of you who did not get to see it, Into the Woods follows a baker (Luc Peirera) and his wife (Rebekah Scharf) as they journey through the mysterious woods to find four objects demanded of them by their neighboring witch (Linnette Taylor). 

Along the way, they come across multiple fairytale characters who live in their world, including Jack (Thomas Auld & Ethan Carr), Little Red (Grace Vuolo & Josey Ikker), and Cinderella (Emily Quick & Rachel McVeigh). Together, they face giants, death, princes, and a race against time. 

All of the actors in the show clearly put a lot of work into learning their lines, choreography, and characters, and it is clear that there was so much fun and dedication put into these performances. The vocal performances put out by the leads were highly impressive. Most of the leads had at least one solo or duet where the audience got to see them shine. 

Surely word has spread, but this show was made even more eventful thanks to the campus-wide power outage that occurred on Saturday. Right toward the end of Auld’s solo during the matinee, the power went out, causing the stage and the mics to go dark. Auld continued without faltering, delivering an impressive and composed performance through the confusion. After his scene ended, the show took a brief intermission during which the tech team went to work finding solutions. They quickly found lights, and the rest of the performance was completed in darkness, as well as the Saturday night performance. The actors adapted very well and delivered a great performance. I got to go to three of the four performances (although I did not get to stay the whole time for each one) and each one was meaningful and fun. They did a great job, and I highly encourage students to go to future lyric theatre productions! ★

Categories
Columns

Houghton STAR Review (STAR April Fools 2023)

By [REDACTED]

WARNING: This is not satire!

This is a cry for help coming from an unspecified STAR official. If you are thinking about joining the STAR team: DO NOT! It is a place of pure terror. Everyone who joins is treated as less than human. Near the end of this upcoming year, the evil and terrifyingly tall Christian Welker intends to overthrow Victoria Hock in a bid to become the leader. Victoria is in her senior year and has been fighting for far too long; I fear she will go down in flames. But once Christian establishes his reign as an eye of Sauron-type figure, the rest of us will be forced to follow his lead. 

Joining his conquest is Joshua Carpenter, a real-life juggernaut. He will probably serve as second-in-command, servicing every one of Christian’s evil desires. Day in and day out they lounge around under the belief of assured destruction come the end of the year. Once they achieve their goals, I fear we may be unable to stop them from corrupting the rest of the campus. One of the biggest tells thus far is how they seem to know everything that’s going on. They have the stories and news before the rest of the campus. I suspect dirty dealings with faculty. Both have admitted close “friendships” with certain professors. But what do they and professors have in common? Wanting to see fellow students suffer under harsh leadership and work hours!

The biggest problem comes with the newer recruits such as Victoria Arndt and Caleb Tiedemann. Both are confined to horrendous work hours, constantly having to find people to write articles and edit the STAR to perfection, under a penetrating gaze. When it does not come out perfect, threats fly and punishments are dealt. These punishments include eating Metz food, being confined in a Big Al’s booth, and worse! Arndt and Tiedemann are given the quotes and works of other students to be edited and made their own. 

Another STAR staff member, Savannah Stitt, is constantly forced to run around and take pictures of various students and events for Christian’s big brother takeover. He MUST know everything that is happening. She acts as a scout, lurking in the shadows, neither seen nor heard to get the best pictures possible, spying on certain clubs and article writers that could very possibly help Christian in his quest for power. 

I urge everyone reading this to look out for the STAR- it is not what it claims to be, it is an institution of black site operations. I request that the college stops looking over the cries of anguish of all the STAR staff members and calls to arms for the necessary reinforcements against Christian and Joshua, for they are indeed an unstoppable duo capable of only the most heinous of crimes. My name is [REDACTED] and as a writer, I stand to be the voice of the people and will not let [REDACTED]★

Message from the Co-Editor-in-Chief:

We apologize for the confusion and fear. This writer has clearly lost their mind and is no longer fit to work within our wonderfully non-evil club. The perpetrator has been sufficiently dealt with and will not taint our wonderful news pages any longer. 

On a completely unrelated and equally non-evil note, we are looking for a new News Editor to replace my minion the current News Editor Josh Carpenter as he steps into the Co-Editor-in-Chief position, replacing Victoria, who will be sorely missed.

Thank you for your consideration, we apologize again for the startling and completely false review.

Long live the Editor-in-Chief

Thank you and have a good day,

Christian D. Welker

Categories
Columns

SPOT 2023 Review

By Lexi Brown

VBS has come to college! I grew up where VBS was a “suggested opportunity” for me every summer, and even though the activities were always bordering on being way too cheesy, I ended up with good memories to look back on every time. SPOT this year was just as memorable and had the same goofy playfulness that I miss from childhood. Veggie Tales was always a family favorite for car rides, and as the band, Archibalding, played during SPOT, I definitely found forgotten lyrics springing to mind at the start of a simple riff. Hearing an audience full of college students scream the lyrics to We are the Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything was certainly not what I expected from my college experience, but I didn‘t know it was missing  until I heard everyone singing all around me. I also found myself making some serious eye contact with Bob, Larry, and Junior Asparagus, who were all wonderfully painted and decorating the stage. 

A couple of key musical moments: Archibalding was not the only band to rock out to some fan favorites this SPOT. They also were not the only ones balding! The “Dad Band” took the stage and played a couple classic 80s hits, and I definitely wouldn’t be surprised to see an animated meme of Dean Jordan jumping making its way around campus. I had never heard our a cappella club sing before, but quite enjoyed their rendition of Pentatonix’ Hallelujah, and look forward to seeing more performances from them. Bunnies (with an honorable mention to Shua’s fluffy companion) also invaded the chapel in a very suave and mysterious way and played songs that had the audience singing and laughing along with them. They really did come dressed to impress. Also impressive, Nuri returned with a violin accompaniment this year and sang about the preciousness of a mother’s love. 

From parodies on the popular Netflix series Cunk on Earth to Blair Witch-esque footage from Paine to the emotional trauma of class evaluations, the short films submitted were all funny, well done, and relatable, even though I’m sure no one has broken any of the Houghton PDA standards. Keep those 11 bibles on hand!  I’ll also be sure to keep my eye out for little German cows from now on. 

The hosts, Julianna and Anna, led some classic VBS activities, such as sword drills to see who’s the best at finding a Bible verse, and a cowboy-themed chair-wrangling competition complete with on-theme cowboy hats. They also sat around a campfire as Caleb See told a scary story, and they challenged faculty in a Bible trivia game that, as far as I could tell, was extremely fair and definitely not rigged. Thank you to both of them for creating this memorable SPOT!

The show closed out with the announcement from a wildly expressive puppet Luckey that Roth was this year’s winner of Hall Brawl. John announced his retirement with an unexpected villain redemption arc that left us wondering who could ever take his place? See ya at SPOT next year for more memories and to discover who’s to walk in his footsteps! ★

Categories
Columns

Houghton Choir Review

By Alaska Dunstan

This past Friday marked the final concert in the Spring 2023 Houghton Choir tour. The theme of the tour was Christ, Our Home. The Houghton Choir performed in 5 states before returning home to the Houghton Chapel for the last concert in this series. 

There were several memorable moments including the reading of an original poem by Linette Taylor. Linette wrote the poem as a reflection of the choir tour and was encouraged by other members of the choir to read it aloud at the final performance.

There was a multitude of beautiful music performed including a composition by Ethan Carr, a graduate student, who also sings in the Houghton Choir. This piece, I Went To the Woods, was conducted by Rebakah Scharf, a fellow graduate student who also had a solo during another piece. The choir also performed pieces such as Christ the Appletree,  Here I Am, Lord, and Great is Thy Faithfulness. My personal favorite was Roll, Jordan, Roll, an exciting song that was performed extremely well by the Houghton Choir. The choir was conducted by Dr. Dibble for the remainder of the performance. 

Overall the concert was a huge success for the Houghton Choir and was a very strong finish to the Spring 2023 tour. ★