August 14th, 2010

James HoganLeave a comment

Today has been a day of total relaxation.

Awesomeness.

In other news, I haven’t had Internet working for the past week, so finally this morning had time to call AT&T to get them to fix it! And fix it they did, hurrah! As soon as I got online again, I realized how much of nothing I had to do online. I got too used to not having internet. Not a bad thing, neh? Still, you all get an update out of me, so it’s all good. And by update, I mean “a very short non-informative entry”. Because my words are all floating around in my head and are being stubborn and are quite unwilling to come out and grace everyone with their presence. Alas, that means I’m stuck with my thoughts and you all will have to go without my ramblings. You don’t want to hear my randomness, you say? Hush.

And in other-other news, I have updated my journal style! Yes, I have had the same journal-style for SO LONG that Livejournal’s software updates played havoc with the old theme that Chris made so long ago(Thanks anyway, Chris!! Six years is a good long life!) and so my journal looked quite…antiquated. I took the liberty to add a random theme and beautify it, a touch. Thoughts?

And before I go and make my dinner(Turkey burgers! But these aren’t just any turkey burgers…filled with green onions and monterey jack cheese and deliciousness…courtesy of Rebecca Lebo!), I will just state that in less than a month, I will be residing in Aberdeen, Scotland. Dude.

August 1st, 2010

James HoganLeave a comment

Wanted to do a quick update, but my dinner awaits! Thus, I will be a terrible tease and give you a brief glimpse at something I’ve been working on this afternoon. This may not stay online long, just as long as it takes to eat dinner and for me to write up a proper update. We’ll see:

Flash.

Jas jerked upright again. The fire had not died down yet, sparks still sailing the wind in front of his eyes. The night was not that cold, the fire not hot enough.

Flash.

Jas laughed aloud, pounding his thigh in open admiration. “Aliya, I’d swear to the stars that your dancing was beautiful, if not that you’d know it for a lie. A lovely face does cover a multitude of missteps, if I may be so bold.” Eyes wide in indignation, Aliya smacked his shoulder and cried, “You may NOT! And besides,” mischief returning to her voice, “You wouldn’t want to go home with a broken arm to add to your broken feet, now would you?” Jas threw her a look of mock horror before breaking down in laughter once again. Aliya ran her fingers through her long dark hair before reaching to her neck to adjust her fine woolen scarf. The blue-streaked green of the scarf did set her eyes off so. Jas told her that and earned enough punch to the arm. “Do you want me too bruised to take your arm, then, my love?” She smiled slyly in return and pulled him to his feet. “No, my Jas, I think it’s time for me to bruise your feet, instead.” Jas groaned, but his feet were already moving in time with the fiddler’s tune. “Right then, my star-blessed lady. We dance tonight!”

Flash.

Jas blinked to see the fiercely burning flames lick towards him. The fire was still burning. That was good. He reached out his hands to warm them. They shook. He would never be warm again.

Flash.

The sun shone dazzlingly high in the perfectly blue sky. Clouds accented the heavens only slightly, not enough to mar the beauty of the morning. Jas lay his head back in the grass and grinned to himself. There was never enough sky for him, never enough blue. The sky called his name like a sailor to the sea. Only, a sea-cursed man could find his dream of a sea and ship to sail, if he so desired. If only the days of old were born anew, Jas could fly the skies like an eagle, like a hawk climbing the ladder of heaven. If the stories were to believed, it was not considered a great thing to fly, then. Jas longed for the chance. Yet the grass under his back was soft enough, and the lowing of cattle soothed his longing heart. “You cannot cry over what you cannot change,” his dad would say. Jas smiled. The sky was beautiful enough. If he drifted off to sleep lost in the blue, it would seem he drifted on a cloud.

Flash.

Jas started awake. The coals at his feet feebly glowed in protest at the damp chill of night. Jas sighed and struggled to his feet. His legs barely held him. He peered up at the sky, hoping to see the stars. Only an oily sheen of clouds returned his gaze. The stars had been gone too long. Too long.

Flash.

And now that my appetite is satisfied, I find that I don’t quite have the desire to write a long update anymore! But as a gift(ENJOY IT!), I decided to leave my above randomness on this post, instead of deleting it like I planned. So appreciate the glimpse into the mind of a madman.

And while I said I wouldn’t write a full update, I do have to say that this past week has been quite intense! What with Deanna being in town(seeing her for the first time in over a year!!) and trying desperately to fight off the clutching hands of sickness, I’ve been on a roller-coaster ride this past week. I feel as if I’ve been wrung dry and burnished to a fine shine and broken and forged anew and pulled bare of the sheath in all my faded glory… But despite the fire and despite the pain, despite the glory and despite the rain, I stand. I stand. God be praised, I stand!

And for real, y’all, I’m off. Pardon my weirdness(or don’t – it’s all the same to me). Time for me to sleep the sleep of the sleepy. And maybe I’ll dream.

James HoganLeave a comment

So just got back from a sweet weekend in Tampa!!! Admittedly, it was bracketed by crazy car adventures(car breaking down in rain + impending flight + me hitchhiking to airport + car being impounded = just a little stress and anxiety. I do NOT like allowing myself to be overwhelmed by worry or uncertainty, but this weekend cut it a little close. But now I have regained my car and I *believe* it’s fixed, bar a slightly alarming rattle in my compressor flywheel. And I have been affirmed in my conviction that I have two of the most awesome friends in the world…Alex driving to check for my car on the beltway at 3 in the morning…and Will helping me rescue and fix my car today. I gotta say, I feel so blessed to know that I have friends who have my back! God is good, INDEED. And thus ends the longest parenthetical thought of all time.), and now I have totally lost my train of thought. *scans back to top of parentheses* Ah yes. The weekend of Tampa and family awesomeness!! Full of the *whole* family together again and taking naps on the couch and late night talks with the sisters and lasagna of amazing awesomeness and Spades tournament with the fam and just loving my family!!! And of course, I did see some other people(including Dream and David, enjoying delicious ice cream and more delicious conversation! And I got to have lunch at Steve and Vickie’s, enjoying hamburgers and beans and encouraging words. And I got my Christmas(ok, a little late) present from them – this awesome handmade blown-glass alligator head. It is AMAZING. If you are in Houston, come over and you can see it. And Gary and Janet came over on Sunday night and again, I am constantly reassured of the amazing blessings of the LORD in the people he surrounds me with. Ah it is too much for someone as silly as I!!) And seriously, these parentheses have got to stop! I am henceforth banning myself from using them for…the rest of this entry.

I have now decided it’s time for dinner. And I’m binging on Snow Patrol on the moment, and I’m not quite sure if that’s a good thing or not. It’s chill enough to be relaxing, but romance-tinged enough to be slightly dangerous to the emotions. Like I’ve said before, music can be a most wonderful and perilous creation!

And now I take my leave. Before I do though, let me share what has been most encouraging these past few days:

Therefore humble yourselves
under the mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt you at the proper time,
casting all our anxiety on Him,
because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6-7

He cares for you. How awesome is that?

Peace be to you all!

James HoganLeave a comment

I just had one of the most glorious camping weekends ever and now I am about to pass out from an overdose of sun and hiking and awesomeness and I desperately need a hot shower and a delicious dinner and a nap but I fear if I lie down I will not wake up until the morning and I still need to clean out my pack and so I suppose I will glory in some hot water and then put on a movie to keep me awake while I unpack and make dinner and oh I am so tired but it is the kind of tired where your bones are so stiff and your head is in a daze of weariness but it is all worth it and this is the worst run-on sentence of all time. I should probably not post this and reveal my exhaustion, but why not? Alex and Will and I gloried in the beauty of the LORD at Enchanted Rock and though we’re now back in Houston, those memories are with me still. Seeing the stars blaze bright against the black velvet of the night sky while lying atop the peak…well, I can’t describe it. Sorry, you’ll just have to experience it yourself! God is good, y’all!!

James HoganLeave a comment

Just because three entries in one day is never a bad thing! Just burning my most recent CD of some of my current fav songs – thought I’d share!! Oh and by the way, I still need a name for the mix. Ideas? I have none.

1. Epicus Furor – Rhapsody
2. Emerald Sword – Rhapsody
3. End of All Hope – Nightwish
4. More Time – Needtobreathe
5. Firefly Theme – Sonny Rhodes
6. Super Honeymoon – Owl City
7. The Chain – Ingrid Michaelson
8. The Scientist – Coldplay
9. Sunburn – Muse
10. Bat Out of Hell – Meatloaf
11. Forward Motion – Relient K
12. Shoulder to the Wheel – Lost Prophets
13. Live your Life – T.I.
14. Factory Girls – Flogging Molly
15. Closing Time – Greenday
16. The Sheep and the Goats – Keith Green
17. Open Your Eyes – Snow Patrol
18. Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing – Jars of Clay

And there you go! I wanted a Taylor Swift song(Love Story), but it wouldn’t fit. So she didn’t make the cut. Ah well. Beside that, not a bad mix, if I do say so myself. And now, it is dinner time! The chicken is done, now just to throw in some romaine, parmesan and croutons. Awesomeness.

James HoganLeave a comment

Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and
He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. And there
was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He
was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an
alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping,
she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the
hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the
perfume. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said
to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort
of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”
And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And
he replied, “Say it, Teacher.”
“A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the
other fifty. When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them
both. So which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said,
“I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have
judged correctly.” Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you
see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet,
but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You
gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss
My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet
with perfume. For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many,
have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little,
loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.”
Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves,
“Who is this man who even forgives sins?” And He said to the woman,
“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
-Luke 8:36-50

I cannot say anything to add to the beauty of these words. But oh how these words have touched my heart! I ask myself, how much have I been forgiven? And the answer is clear. I have been forgiven…everything. Oh how great is my love for my Saviour!! If only I were in His presence and could kiss His feet. If only I could kneel and hug his feet to myself! Oh I would cry for love! I have sinned much. I have sinned completely. And I have been forgiven much. I have been forgiven completely. Oh the beauty! Oh I could weep!

James HoganLeave a comment

It’s a beautifully rainy evening here in Houston! The rain has stopped and the thunder has dimmed and now all I can hear is the soothing sound of rain dripping off the trees and it’s absolutely the perfect end to a beautiful day!! And of course, since it’s a Sunday, thought it was a good time for a small update as well! And yes, this entry really will be small. I think. Hold me to it!!

Today was a lovely time at church, talking and worshiping and laughing and loving with everyone at our dear church – I’ve only been here a short while but already I feel like I’ve known everyone a lifetime!! It will be indeed bittersweet when I move off to Scotland(BUT I’m not moving as soon as I had thought. I just found out that I’ll be staying in Houston until September and then going to be in Aberdeen from September to March! Pretty much the worst time of year to be in Scotland. Ah well. It’ll still be epic.)…and the rest of this afternoon was spent relaxing back at my apartment catching up with Florida friends and enjoying the music of the storm. I took a brief nap and then my stomach started reminding me it was dinner time, so here I am. I think tonight would be a good night for a proper chicken caesar salad…mmmm…my mouth is already watering in anticipation. But don’t worry, I’ll finish this entry. Soon.

Yesterday was spent mostly taking my car to the shop – the AC hasn’t been working in a few months. This wasn’t that bad back when it was winter and spring. Now that it’s summer…well, let’s just say driving isn’t that fun. Even with the windows down. I *think* it’s fixed now, but we’ll have to see how it holds up. I drove straight from the car shop(with working AC!) to HEB to pick up picnic supplies, because last night was Claire’s birthday picnic!! Her birthday’s not ’til next week, but we celebrated last night anyway. We went to the park and had such sweet times relaxing over food and drink(I had a yummy sub and also had carrots and chips and deliciously spicy hummus, mmmm…). After dinner at the picnic table, we took a walk around the park – it was such a gorgeous park, too! I wish there was a park of that caliber closer to where I live. Ah well. We walked and talked and eventually ended up at the swing-set, where our dangerous looks and obvious maturity scared away the high school punks that were there. Yeah, what can I say? After fun times swinging and chilling, we went back to Melissa’s house(she just got it, so it didn’t really have a lot of furniture yet and is sort of in the redecorating process…but it was beautiful!) for dessert! There was chocolate mousse and lemon torte and carrot-pineapple cupcakes and I had FAR too much sugar. But it was amazing. And so we(we being Melissa, Claire, me, Adam, Marci, Will, Sara, her sisters…) talked the night away on such random topics as the Redskins being better than the Cowboys(well, Sara disagrees) and Dr. Who(which I suppose I need to watch at some point). Eventually we got kicked out, because church was indeed the next morning. And then I drove the long drive home…some forty-five minutes later I got home. Then read for a while. Then fell asleep.

And as for Friday, while I feel I’m already running far over my planned stopping point, I must mention a bit more! Friday night was a sweet time chilling with the guys(well, me, Alex, Joseph and Will). We hit up Chipotle’s(minus Will, who spent all day deep-sea fishing!) and then afterwards went to Alex’s place and watched District 9. Very intriguing movie. Sort of depressing, but it ended on a better note than I was expecting. And that’s all I shall say about that. Earlier on Friday I was at work…at Bingle for the last time!! Because tomorrow I’m starting at a new facility(BOP Aftermarket, to train for Aberdeen), so on Friday I had to say all my farewells! It was sad indeed…I’ve only been at Bingle for a year(well, and my three-month internship in ’08) but I’ve worked with these people 9 hours a day, five days a week! In those conditions, you get to know a person pretty well, let me tell you. And the Quality team(my department, yeah!) were so amazing to me, giving me farewell breakfast donuts and farewell Pizza Hut lunch(can you tell we like to eat at Bingle??) and pretty much making me feel like I’m the best guy ever. Clearly they don’t know me well enough…but seriously, I feel so thankful to God for giving me this year of working with and loving these people!! Ah, the Lord is good indeed!! I’m gonna miss my coworkers. Is that something everyone can say? I think not. But I will miss them indeed.

And now this entry has gone on far too long. And I have a bit more to say, but that is for another entry. And I’m hungry. Hmm. To eat or to write? That is the question.

James HoganLeave a comment

Ok, I really really really should go to bed right now. I got minimal sleep last night and am exhausted now, even after a couple cans of mountain dew! But no, I must recap this weekend while it’s fresh and unspoiled by a hard week’s work. So before my eyes start shutting of their own accord and my head slams down into the keyboard, here goes!

Friday was a sweet time at the Jacob’s house for care group!! As always, good times studying(we’re now in Revelation 13) and such lovely times fellowshipping. And a little round-the-world ping-pong for good measure. Y’know. Saturday started out lovely with me catching up on sleep and then having some bacon and coffee, relaxing in the goodness of the LORD! Later that afternoon, got some errands done and then me and Alex went on a baseball adventure to Minute Maid Park! And why did we want to see the Astros play? Well, really the Astros don’t excite me that much, but the Rays were in town!! So me and Alex went downtown to the field, got some sweet tickets(first level, behind homeplate!) and enjoyed watching the Rays dominate it up! They actually weren’t that dominant, but we did win! 4-2. I do so love going to baseball games…watching baseball on TV isn’t half as fun as going to the game and hanging out with your friends. And seriously, that was the best part – chilling with Alex and having good discussions!!

Sunday was(as always!) awesome. Following church, relaxed at my place a little bit before heading to the Denney’s place for the SERIES FINALE of LOST! Whoa. I remember my first ever episode I saw, over at Andrew Stanfill’s place, season 2 finale. I had no idea who anyone was or why this underground bunker-thing was about to explode. But I was intrigued. I didn’t really start watching until the second half of season 3(Chris, thanks for lending me seasons 1 and 2, dude. All because of you.) and from then on, I watched it fairly consistently. And now, it’s over. And it was awesome getting to see it on the Denney’s sweet widescreen HDTV with surround sound. Now that’s how you watch a series finale! We snacked on good food and madly theorized on every conceivable LOST point while they played the two hour “catch-up” show. Eventually, Alex showed up, just in time to start the fun! I’m not going to summarize the finale(if you’re a fan, you’ve already seen it, if not, you’ll just be…no, I am NOT going to make the obvious pun! *runs away with hand over mouth*)

ANYWAYS. Just a brief note on the way it all ended though…as I was watching the final five minutes, I was initially a little disappointed, seeing the competing religious symbolism and all the nods to basically every faith in existence. False gods and idols do not please me. At all. And the explanation of all the characters ending up in a church, letting go of their holds on the material world to enter some pantheistic universalistic heaven…well, that annoyed me too. So sadly, I was a bit depressed watching the final scenes. But seeing Jack Shepard stumble through the bamboo forest to finally lie down and die, looking up at the sky as the series closed as his eye closed for the final time…well, that was pretty epic. I must admit, the music that played during that bit has been stuck in my head this whole past day! And now that I’m able to look back at the finale, I appreciate it. This show truly is an adventure of mystery and science and technology and mysticism, yes…but in the end, it’s all about the characters(Desmond, Penny, Sawyer, Juliet, Hurley…Locke, Ben, Jack…I could go on and on!) and their love and tears and living and dying and laughter and pain and trials and tribulations and yearning for something just that tiny bit out of reach…and that’s why LOST was so special. And this finale focused on the characters we loved so much instead of trying to answer every random mystery in some forced fashion. And once I realized the fact that this show was NOT going to accurately proclaim the truth of the gospel and of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ(really, why would I expect that??), I accepted the ending as epic. Truly. Once again, I see beauty in the picture of mankind striving ever higher, ever closer to the image of the One in whom we were created. I see beauty in the story of people longing for that something more. And I weep over people worshiping at the altar of the Unknown God. Oh I weep. Oh, but for the beauty of the Truth, that which truly satisfies us, the Word. God. The Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth!!!

And so LOST gets so close. And yet so far. Still, the glory of the Lord shines through the cracks of the facade we put up to hide ourselves from the true Light!! Just a TV show? Yes. A heretical TV show? Yes. Epic entertainment? Yes. A reminder of the need for our Saviour? A thousand times, nay a million times, YES. It’s been a good run, LOST. *tips hat*

And that is far more than I meant to write!! I almost descended into another topic entirely. But I couldn’t resist. I hope some of that made sense(as always, a cookie to the one who read all of my musing!)

And as for tonight(oh yes, I’m not done yet!), I had a lovely time at Alex’s place(wow, I’ve been seeing him a lot lately. Sweet) watching the series finale of 24. I have a confession to make. I’d never seen a single episode before this one. So I was a bit confused. But all I have to take away from it is that Jack Bauer is a beast. The end.

And now, shower and then bed calls my name! To all, a good night!!