Month: September 2008

James HoganLeave a comment

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

James HoganLeave a comment

Well, I’m in the education library here and just finished studying for my supply chain exam I have in a bit. I’m not quite sure how ready I am…but I guess I’ll find out! My laptop battery is almost dead, but I thought I might as well write a quick entry(and hope my laptop doesn’t die in the middle of it). After my exam today, I have a bunch of random errands to run…and then tonight, I’m heading to Tampa! I don’t think I’ve mentioned it here before, but I will very soon have my own means of transportation(…a car!!!) It will be very very awesome, mostly because it will be my first car. Ever. It’s my grandma’s car, so me and my dad are flying up to the midwest to pick it up and then driving all the way back here over the weekend! So while this means I’ll get absolutely no schoolwork done over the weekend…I’ll have an awesome time driving with my dad!!

Hmm, apparently my battery has 10 minutes left. Eh, I’ll keep writing. This past week has been crazy busy, just because I’ve been attempting to get everything done before I leave tonight(like my simulations homework which is due tomorrow, but I already finished it to turn in today). Last night was great at the Christian Study Center(that really has been my home lately…) with Creekside Wednesday night. I got to enjoy singing one of my favorite hymns(Holy, Holy, Holy), go over one of my favorite verses(1 Peter 1:13), and(ok, my battery just died…my computer lied. I did NOT have 10 minutes left! Well, at least when I plugged it in – and don’t even ask why I didn’t plug it in sooner..shhhh – it brought back this page so I don’t have retype everything) Anywayss…where was I? Oh yeah, I was talking about how awesome last night was…besides the singing and the study, I had some great times talking with Betsy and Dan. So encouraging to talk with them!!!

And speaking of Dan, it’s time for lunch with Rob and Dan. I think we’re hitting up Larry’s Subs…which means it’s the second day in a row I’ll eat there. I am terrible!

Farewell, all! Hope you enjoyed this somewhat scattered post!

James HoganLeave a comment

Well, today is exam day. Finance exam day, to be precise! I’m still not fully prepared, but by the end of the day(and my 8pm start time), I should be. Anyway, that wasn’t why I started writing this – just wanted to mention how awesome my weekend was!! Went tubing on the Ichetucknee on Saturday with RUF…I just LOVE floating down the river! And flipping people over is always fun times. After tubing, we hung out at Deanna’s house for a while, eating tons of good food, ping-ponging, taking naps on couches…it was sweeet. A few of us got to go out later and visit Deanna’s peanut fields(fresh peanuts taste a little weird, I have to say) and then swim in the Suwannee. Actually we didn’t really swim…we mainly just splashed each other.

Yesterday was not too shabby, either…church was awesome. Pastor Richard started his new series on…Romans. It’s going to be amazing. And never-ending. We had fun times having a study party in the afternoon and then prayer and praise was in the evening, which as always, encourages me to no end. How good it is to pray and fellowship and worship together!!!

Now I must get back to finance studying. As I posted in my facebook status…”Dominating finance. One period at a time.”

James HoganLeave a comment

Ahhhh, I have so much homework tonight!!! We had an awesome time at Creekside large group tonight…but now I pay the price. Before I go, I leave you with this:

After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

James HoganLeave a comment

Hmm, I just upgraded to new Firefox and now livejournal looks really weird. I don’t know what to do. This shall require some research. And further on the livejournal front…I’ve been thinking it may be time I get a new theme. Any ideas??? If anyone does have any ideas and also has pictures/background that would be cool, let me know. Because I am the least artistically capable person ever!! Well, maybe not quite. But pretty close.

And right now(in case you can’t tell), I’m running a deficiency of sleep. You may all be wondering, “But why? The weekend just happened; you should have gotten plenty of sleep!” But noo…I am not always that smart about things as important as sleep. Or in other words, I just had way too much fun doing things when I was awake to remember my body likes sleep. Hence my body is quite upset with me right now.

And soon I’ll be getting ready to leave for the first Prayer and Praise of the year!!! I can’t wait because Prayer and Praise is awesome. And yeah. It’s pretty much just awesome. I probably shouldn’t go because I need to get homework done and also get SLEEEP but ah well. I know I won’t regret going…because I never do!

But as of this weekend…what all happened that kept me from sleeping, you ask?(Ok, maybe you didn’t ask, but let’s say you did for the sake of this entry) I’m trying to remember what all I did Friday night, but my memory is failing me. Aha, I remember now. We were just going to hang out and relax here at our place…so we started the night watching Galan playing God of War(it’s amazing how fun it can be just to WATCH someone play video games…) But eventually Bekah, Holly, and Melinda came over to chill with us so we got some pizza and all watched “The Village”. I thought it was going to be a pretty creepy movie, but it wasn’t really. Thankfully. After the movie, went over to Shari, Deanna and Amy’s house to drop Bekah over and I indulged in a bit of her Dove mint chocolate chip ice cream, which though delicious, has not unseated Breyers as the king of ice cream. We came back to our place and Holly wanted to go back to her place to pick up her roommate from a party. Rob, Galan and I went with her for “protection” and we had some interesting times finding her roommate. After that we chilled at Holly’s place for a while and played some Guitar Hero(at which I dominated at first…as long as it was set on Easy). By the time we got home, it was about 3am. That still wasn’t too late, until I remembered that me and Rob were going with Laurie and a friend to watch the sunrise at Cedar Key. And that we were leaving at 5.

Rob fell asleep while me, Galan and Holly watched a bunch of episodes from The Office and talked about random stuff that I’m sure made no sense since we were extremely sleep deprived. Finally around 5:30 or so, Rob, Laurie, her friend Marianne and I left for Cedar Key. Somehow I was still awake…somehow. The next few hours were just amazing. Stopping by the side of the road…staring at the stars in wonder at the awesomeness of God’s creation. Luxuriating in the cool morning air sitting on a pier watching the sun peek out at us as the earth slowly turned…walking around the sleepy little town of Cedar Key and eventually eating a massive breakfast…just talking and talking and enjoying quiet fellowship with each other and God. How good is our Lord!!!

Eventually we came back to Gainesville. And at long last..around 11:00am…I slept. And indeed it was glorious!!! I actually only got around 3 hours of sleep(because for some reason my body does not like sleeping when there’s sunshine outside!) but it felt so delicious. Before we headed over to the game, Rob and Galan and I played some disc golf with George and Mr. Lebo. And then…the Miami game!!! It was tense for a while, but we pulled it out in a 26-3 victory. Go Gators! Other stuff happened after that, but we finally made it back to Stoneridge around 1 or 2am. I can’t quite remember.

This morning was a nice early one…accompanied by my classic Sunday breakfast of bacon and coffee, yeah! Church was, as always, supremely refreshing. Afterward, we had a big lunch at Moe’s and now…I’m here. And Amy just called so it is time to prayer and praise it up! Farewell all!! Major props for reading all of this!

And if anyone has livejournal theme ideas, tell me please!!!

James HoganLeave a comment

I just realized that I never said on here that yes, I am back in Gainesville. Even though it should have been inferred from my earlier posts. Anyways, for one more year. One final year. One last year at the University of Florida. It’s shocking to realize that four years ago I was finishing high school. And here I am finishing college. I want to write a more profound post later(but will I?), but not now. Mostly because my rice has finished cooking and I want to eat it. Yes, I realize it’s almost midnight. I’m still hungry. Food time now – farewell!!

James HoganLeave a comment

She gently lifts the glass
to her lips
and raises her eyes to mine.

I smile into the blue
of her eyes
and cover her hand with mine.

She licks salt from the glass
with her tongue
and touches her lips to mine.

I hold her close and feel
her heart race
and I thank the Lord with mine.

And..


A jump in time
A bend in space
A lurch of mind
A change in phase.

What now says the warrior?
What now says the sage?
What now says the maiden?
What now says the page?

Who controls the higher power?
Who decrees the moon and sun?
Who wields the sword of light divine?
Who decides when time is done?

One who rules the highest heavens
One who shines with brightest flames
One who is Lord God Almighty
Who is Name above all names.