Happy Friday, friends!!! I’m sitting here at my desk at work, about ready to begin another day and end another week in fine style – it’s been a bit of a slow work week here, but no complaints, just been steadily working away. Also been recovering my sleep all week after an awesome weekend in Canada with Robbie, Ryan and friends! I wish I had more time to describe the vacation, but alas, I do not. Anyways, a relaxing night was had last night – ate my dinner(fish, chips and peas!) and watched an episode of Angel. Also read a little more of Communion with God by Owen. I always forget how good and encouraging that book is. At some point, I’ll try to post another excerpt, but right now read about how deeply important the Holy Spirit is to our lives as Christians – and how we should seek the comfort and encouragement and sanctification and gifts that He brings – do not understate the importance of the Spirit in our everyday lives as we seek to glorify God in all that we do. And wow, that was said so much more poorly than Owen stated it. Still hopefully you get the idea!
Now, I’m off. Going to continue drinking my yummy peppermint mocha and dominate this work day and then…drive up to Dallas for a weekend with Mikaela. Y’know. A good weekend is at hand – but first, going to enjoy the Lord in His work this day! Peace, my friends. Peace and love.
Good morning friends!! A blitz of a post here before I begin working! I’m sipping on my Friday peppermint mocha even though it’s not really Friday because…this is the last day of the work week for me! Fly off to Vancouver tomorrow for a weekend in Canada with Robbie, Ryan and friends! It’s going to be awesomeness, not least of which because I haven’t seen Robbie in a couple years now so really looking forward to catching up with him and having some quality chats(which we always always do). And of course – first time in Canada, so there’s that! I think we might also drop down to Seattle for a day, as well. So anyway, I’m in a pretty good mood now, looking forward to a sweet holiday time with friends. Shall be wonderful, I so decree!
And just as awesome as this coming weekend is going to be, last weekend was. Another super busy weekend, mostly because Mikaela came down from Dallas and spent the whole weekend in Houston and so naturally we spent very much time together(as is good and proper!). Went to Bethel on Friday night and heard John Piper speak on his new book A Peculiar Glory – about how the Word of God reveals its utter truthfulness to mankind. His talk was absolutely wonderful – he marries intellectual vigor and wisdom with the sweet passion that can only be granted by knowing God so closely and intimately. Oh how my eyes were lifted up to heaven as we pondered the glories of God!
Saturday night(after many fun adventures during the day, of course), me and Mikaela went on a double date with Earnie and Mandy to the symphony! After a quality dinner of steak and mashed potatoes at Truluck’s, we four enjoyed the Houston Symphony and Choir’s fine performance of Faure’s Requiem. Very very beautiful, indeed. And Sunday, following church, Mikaela and I had a most yummy Cajun-filled lunch at BB’s where I had my standard jalapeno mac’n’cheese and she ate many delicious looking crawfish. But…apart from the food and fun we enjoyed over the weekend, the best part was just being with Mikaela and talking with her and enjoying our time together…such sweet times indeed, may God be praised.
And now that I’ve written a bit more than I had planned, it is off to work with me. Be joyful this day, my friends – and think on the beauty of Jesus Christ our Lord. Peace, y’all – peace and love.
I forgot how much I love reading Hebrews. I really did mean to post a proper entry today as I sip on my extra-chocolatey mocha, but alas, my time has run out and I need to start on work momentarily. And so I’ll just post a small portion of what encouraged me today…
For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness(for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a much better hope, through which we draw near to God. And inasmuch as it was not without an oath(for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, “The Lord has sworn And will not change His mind, ‘You are a Priest forever'”); so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever. – Hebrews 7:18-28
Peace and love, my friends – have a most wonderful Monday!
Hello friends!! Here at Starbucks just finishing up my coffee and about to head out again pretty soon…needed some internet time(really, mostly just to update my phone apps and write some messages to people that I haven’t talked to in far too long!). Also got some reading time done(Colossians commentary by MacArthur to prepare for next Tuesday community group!) so a most productive coffee place time indeed. I’m feeling a bit weary just now…woke up nice and late(7:30!!) and then went for a run along Buffalo Bayou…didn’t want to run too long since it was getting hot but I got six miles in! I’m going to be feeling it tomorrow though, since I haven’t run in almost two months. Hm. I really need to get back into a routine, but part of the problem is that I prefer to run on Saturday mornings and I’ve unfortunately(or fortunately, depending on your perspective!) been finding myself out of town for many of the past weekends.
Anyways, the rest of today is going to consist of cleaning my place and then cooking a proper dinner(homemade tomato sauce with spicy Italian sausage and peppers and onions, hello!) and having a restful evening. And most possibly reading a good book as well – after an extended break, think it’s high time I get back to reading Owen’s Communion with God. I’m pretty excited. Yes, I’m odd, I realise that! But truly, a relaxing weekend is most needed and I am very grateful that God has given me this time to rest! And some solid time to seek after God and worship Him and enjoy His presence in my life. Truly, to know Christ Jesus my Lord and to understand and immerse myself in His love for me – is there anything greater in this life?? So tonight I mean to meditate on the wonders and glories of Christ my Lord. It shall be beautiful.
Now my friends, I am off into this wondrously bright Houston afternoon. Be well. Peace and love!
Morning friends!! Just about to start work here…but thought I’d say hi quickly! It’s the middle of the work week and I’m already starting to get a bit worn out(guess waking up at 4:30 will do that to a person…). Tonight is planned to be a quiet night in(complete with delicious chicken/leek/potato dinner and most certainly an episode of Angel!)…because tomorrow night I know is going to be a late one, me and James going to go to the Rockets-Warriors playoff game. I’m sure the Rockets will get utterly destroyed, but it’s still always fun to see some playoff basketball!! This weekend is also planned to be a quiet one…especially since it’s going to be my first weekend in Houston in a month. Shocking, I know, but that’s what happens when I spend the last three weekends in either Dallas or New Orleans. I am very very tired of driving. So this is a super random post and I really do need to start work, so I’m off! May your day be full of light and love, my friends.
I love this passage so much…have faith, my friends, and believe.
So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” And when He had had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
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.”
Hey friends – happy Monday!! I have just enjoyed a hearty lunch of…well, peanut butter and jam sandwiches. It will tide me over to dinner, at least! And as of two minutes ago, I’ve bought symphony tickets for a few weeks from now(Faure’s Requiem, which I’ve never heard, but excited about!).
Now, in the few minutes I have left before I resume work, thought I’d post a recipe I made last night and also begin a new tradition called “Hungry Monday”. Oh wait no. That is truly a most terrible name. And I also fully expect this tradition to last exactly one week as I doubt I’ll remember it next week…but nonetheless, I made a pretty good dinner last night(if I do say so myself!) and I want to write down the recipe now before I forget what I did. And…well, just in case anyone is reading this and wants to try and mimic this utter delight of a meal. Without further ado…
This recipe shall be entitled: Chicken and Leek Creamy Goodness, which if that’s not too much to scare you off, then…read on!
Basically, this is a super easy meal. I just wanted chicken and leeks and rummaged through a bunch of online recipes(None of which had what I wanted!) so I ended up combining a few recipes and doing my own thing(like adding peppercorns because I like peppercorns!)
Ingredients: -Some chicken breast pieces(preferably boneless/skinless) -Bottle of some kind of white wine -Leeks! I used three, because they came in a bunch of three. -One regular sized white onion -2 lemons -Ground black peppercorns -Garlic powder(or if you’re less lazy than I, just get actual fresh garlic!) -Some dijon mustard -A very little bit of olive oil -2 cans of coconut milk
And that’s it. I hope you like the precision of my ingredient list…truly, you can play with this and alter as you see fit…
Directions: 1) Brown the chicken(I had three breast pieces, cut them in half) in the olive oil. Don’t use very much oil, just enough so the chicken won’t be sticking to the pan! Once chicken is done, take out of the pan and place on a plate for a while. 2) While chicken is cooking, chop your onion into small pieces and place aside. Also chop up your leeks into pieces and place the pieces in a bowl of water and rinse to get all the dirt out. Let them sit in that water for a while – you won’t need the leek until the end. 3) Throw the onion pieces into the frying pan with the oil remnants and add a cup of white wine. Add a bunch of peppercorn and garlic powder and let the onion pieces cook for a little while! 4) Add a little bit of mustard(however much you want, really) and the coconut milk, stir and let boil for a while. 5) Add the chicken and let the chicken pieces cook in the sauce as it continues to boil. Squeeze the lemons into the sauce, continue to add spices and mustard to taste and really…just let it simmer until it starts to thicken. It may take a little while(but worth it!!) 6) Once sauce starts to thicken, add all the leek pieces and stir(maybe adding more spices too, mmm!). 7) Once the sauce reaches desired consistency, turn off heat and you’re done. Chicken and leeks and creamy goodness! I served over a potato(because I *really* wanted a baked potato…), but I think this would also go great over rice. Enjoy. (I hope)
And again, I really only posted this for my benefit, because I tend to forget my recipes if I don’t write them down and I don’t have my handy little notebook with me…but I thought I may as well post it on here too. For posterity! Oh and side-note…credit to whom credit is due. This whole idea was pretty much entirely inspired by Chris, who mentioned making having chicken and leeks a few weeks ago and it sounded so good I thought I needed to give it a try. So thanks Chris. (This would probably be even better with a glass of Tokaji, which sadly is hard to find at a reasonable price around here…)
Good morning, friends, from New Orleans!!! This is a quick entry as I wait for my breakfast to arrive at the table…already had a delicious biscuit and my fresh hot coffee tastes simply amazing just now. Of course part of the reason for that may be I got very little sleep last night…since I was rocking out to Mumford and Sons – they put on an incredible show and I definitely don’t regret driving here from Houston to see them!! …of course, the main reason I was here was to see Maryanne and enjoy the show with her. Hurrah for good times!!! Reading Psalm 105 just now and reminded how good it is to thank and praise the Lord for all his many blessings to me. So…praise the Lord!!!! Now, my chicken and waffles and potatoes have arrived. Breakfast time. Peace and love.
Hi friends!! Thought I’d jot something down quickly here, even though I really should be starting work momentarily! Anyways, it’s a simply gorgeous Friday morning…streaks of pink and purple fill the sky as the sun rises above the horizon…beautiful. Now, I’m drinking my peppermint mocha and pondering a new day, wondering what adventures I’ll encounter today. After work today, going home to have a quiet evening and rest in anticipation of trip to New Orleans this weekend to hang out with Maryanne and see Mumford and Sons! (of which I’m much more excited about the former than the latter!!) I must be off now for real – be well, my friends – peace and love.
A mount untraveled, a tree not blooming, a flag yet unfurled, and the sweet colour of the pale of dawn.
I look upon a crescent moon and I sigh in unbridled wonder that there could be such beauty.
And behold tulips blossoming in purest white, stars singing sweet and strong in dazzling night, fields of wheat rippling in warm sunlight, that music bliss and those blue eyes bright oh behold!
Beauty that there could be such in unbridled joy now and I sigh – I look upon a waxing moon.
The path is winding through the wild moors, The trees stand tall and kiss their brethren, And upon the terrace of brick and stone, look and behold the aching sweetness – oh the tale of dawn.
Something Weird 