Seaspray

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And hello again! It is (still) Saturday and (still) Starbucks. I have semi-finished my new CD. Ok, not really, but I’ve cut it down to an hour, 47 minutes and am listening to it while I write this. Honestly, don’t think it’s good enough yet, so may not finalize for a few weeks. Thought since I have been thinking of mix CDs, will post a track-list from my last one(not HymnSing – that is the post below this!). This is a particular favourite of mine…may be my all time favourite. But of course, it is mostly just a peek through the window of my heart to what I’ve been currently enjoying…although I do think I can say it is critically acclaimed, as both Julie and Laura have testified it is quite good! You may notice a preponderance of certain artists. I feel a bit guilty of overloading…but the songs were just so good I couldn’t help it. Anyways…

eyes closed, Heart Open
1. In Memoriam – The Oh Hellos
2. Second Child, Restless Child – The Oh Hellos
3. Jerome – Zella Day
4. The Arrow – Josh Garrels
5. Mainstream Kid – Brandi Carlile
6. Tales of Brave Ulysses – Cream
7. Gila – Beach House
8. Intro – The XX
9. VCR – The XX
10. 1965 – Zella Day
11. Past Lives – BØRNS
12. Clouds – BØRNS
13. Electric Love – BØRNS
14. Hypnotic – Zella Day
15. Shelter – The XX
16. Heart of Chambers – Beach House
17. The District Sleeps Alone Tonight – The Postal Service
18. Ulysses – Josh Garrels
19. Compass – Zella Day
20. Go – The Civil Wars
21. Caesar – The Oh Hellos

O For a Thousand Tongues

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Hello friends and happy Saturday!!!

I am currently at Starbucks(in Houston again!) and have been having a relaxing last couple of hours here. I recently have been putting together (another!) quality mix CD, purchasing various songs from hither and yon(er, or…from the wild Amazon) and now I’m at the point where I really need to listen to them together to judge the flow, etc. But I’m also rather silly and am refusing to do that since I’m currently listening to my Hymn playlist…and it is so joyous and marvelous and simply amazingly God-glorifying that I can’t listen to anything else just now. So thought I’d update this instead. Yay? And because I haven’t posted these track-lists yet, thought I’d record for posterity the last several mixes I’ve made…I rather enjoy them, but your tastes may(and will!) differ.

Firstly, the playlist I’m listening to now – HymnSing. I’ve long desired to have a proper CD with all my favourite hymns. During the course of making this, discovered that I have too many favourites for one CD. Oops? Anyways, I put this together and…it is rather wonderful. It may or may not have drawn tears during my first listen-through in my car one beautiful morning. Since these are all sung by various groups, not going to put the artists, just the title. Many of them are live recordings of simply amazing congregational and choir singing praises to our great God…who has forgiven us…everything. If you want a copy of this CD – message me on your preferred media and give me your address and I’ll send you a copy. Behold our God.

HymnSing:
1. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
2. My Hope is Built on Nothing Less
3. Grace Greater Than All Our Sin
4. And Can It Be That I Should Gain
5. How Firm A Foundation
6. There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood
7. Before The Throne Of God Above
8. Behold Our God
9. Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing
10. O The Deep, Deep Love Of Jesus
11. Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken
12. Jesus Paid It All
13. It Is Well With My Soul
14. Holy, Holy, Holy
15. O, For A Thousand Tongues To Sing
16. All Hail The Power Of Jesus’ Name
17. Worthy Is The Lamb That Was Slain
18. Amen

A Philosopher

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So, per popular demand(if one person constitutes popularity, that is – *bows to Noemi*), I shall write a quick update here…

And where is here? Well, I just happen to be at a burger place in the Houston airport. And I just happen to be heading over Scotland way in…oh about two hours!!! I simply cannot describe the anticipation that fills my heart and I don’t have time to tell of all the people I’m longing to see again….but it shall be grand and simply glorious. Oh what a gift God my Father has granted me, to be able to go to Scotland and see so many dear, dear friends!!!

And now, my turkey burger and fries are here…so this short update shall conclude.

Love you all. Always.

Tears of Joy

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Hello friends – and a happy Tuesday to you all!! I am going to write a quick update here before work begins…because this weekend has been quite a whirlwind, not at all the “free and relaxing” weekend I thought it was going to be! Well, it was a beautiful three day weekend but somehow I found a way to cram many many things into it. Hmm. Not one quiet night, what has become of me!!? Anyways! Friday night, had a fun time going to Torchy’s with Angela and John and having some good catch-up time with them(and delicious tacos, natch!) Saturday morning…somehow I got the brilliant idea that I needed to run since it’d been a while. So I got up uber early(to beat the heat, etc. Oh Houston) and ran my long run(10 mi). After I was halfway through, body was feeling great and so I was thinking I might push it to 13…but sadly my lack of hydration caught up with me about the 8 mile mark and so I most struggled those last couple miles. I decided not to be foolish and just finished my normal run. Anyway, once I hydrated, I felt great(albeit quite sore rest of day. And day after. And day after…) and I got to enjoy a nice coffee and reading morning at home. Eventually I went out, did various errands that needed doing(and buying books for people in Aberdeen, hurrah! I shall not name them here, just in case they’re reading this. Which is probably doubtful). Then I popped over to Starbucks for some online and writing time(which was very unsuccessful – I’m struggling with current story sadly). At this point, it was about 2pm and I realised I was very faint and dizzy and getting a headache. I wondered why. And then I remembered that I had sort of forgotten to eat anything all day. Even after my run. Oops? So I went to Trader Joe’s, got some hatch chile mac’n’cheese(which was quite good!) and then ate that at home while watching college football(which has returned! Houston beat Oklahoma and Texas A&M beat UCLA and Texas beat ND…so all is well in the state of Texas today).

And wow, this entry is a bit ridiculous – I am rambling overmuch and I would apologise, but I’m not done yet. I shall try to quicken the pace though, as I do need to start work soon. So where was I? Saturday? Oh yes. Right. So, after watching a bit of college football, I had plans with Jared to hang out and watch a movie at my place. Sadly, he had to cancel because of some family plans that came up…but since I have awesome friends that invited me to something else(thanks Lea and Marianna!), my evening did not go wasted. Went to the Miller Outdoor Theatre and enjoyed some quality baroque music and some even more quality conversation with the aforementioned Lea and Marianna. I got home at some point and promptly fell into bed. Sunday! Sunday was the day of days. Church(which was marvelous and encouraging and God exalting!), then missions prayer time, then had some good sushi with Jonathan and Julian for lunch. Afterwards when I was back at my place, invited Julie over for tea and reading time, but sadly(not really!) we got no reading done and just had a great time talking and talking and talking instead. She is such an encouraging and dear friend! After that…Jared came over and we had some dinner and watched the Texas-ND game(instead of movie, because who needs a movie when you have football?). And unsurprisingly, while we watched the game, the best part was just talking about life. And thus ended my Sunday, in which I got approximately one hour to myself. And I am not complaining one bit.

And…er, I really need to cut this off here, even though I haven’t even talked about yesterday(Labor Day) yet. Oh well – just know that it was good and God blessed. As always. I must simply praise my God for always blessing me oh so much. Of course, there are some parts of life that are sorrowful and so we must grieve. But when I am enjoying life, I must recognize that it is God my Father who has blessed me so – and I thank Him and Him alone.

This morning, I heartily enjoyed listening to my newest mix CD…it is maybe my best yet. It is all hymns(do not laugh!) and it is beautiful. It is very unoriginally entitled HymnSing and it contains pretty much all my favourite hymns. Singing them in the car this morning as I thought about the love of God…oh what tears, oh what joy. When someday God grants that I may return to Him(oh come that day!), I do hope that some of these songs are sung. Oh how wondrous it is, to think that the blood of Jesus has paid for all my sins. That is my theme, my song. I will at some point post the track-list, but now I shall simply end this very very long entry(my apologies, dear friends) and leave you with this…

Soul, then know thy full salvation
Rise o’er sin and fear and care
Joy to find in every station,
Something still to do or bear.
Think what Spirit dwells within thee,
Think what Father’s smiles are thine,
Think that Jesus died to win thee,
Child of heaven, canst thou repine?

Leaves of Autumn

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Happy Friday, one and all!! I really have negligible time to post this morning, but it is Friday and I am drinking my peppermint mocha, so my Pavlovian reaction is to write a quick entry here!! September has finally begun, and it shall be a month to remember, I do believe! I am excited for this month, to see what God will do!! Now I must fly, but just wanted to encourage you all to enjoy this day – oh so many good things do we have to be thankful for. Let’s remember that, shall we?

Peace and love.

Ascendant

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But I am afflicted and in pain;
May Your salvation, O God, set me securely on high.
I will praise the name of God with song
And magnify Him with thanksgiving.
And it will please the Lord better than an ox
Or a young bull with horns and hoofs.
The humble have seen it and are glad;
You who seek God, let your heart revive.
For the Lord hears the needy
And does not despise His who are prisoners.
-Psalm 69:29-33

Neon Haze

James HoganLeave a comment

Morning, all!! Quick update time. It’s a wonderfully sticky Monday morning here in Houston and as the day slowly lightens, thought I’d let you know what I’ve been up to lately as I sip on my peppermint mocha…

In actuality, this weekend was a nice and calm one, which I appreciated much. Friday night, went with Sammy to a random church’s young adult group meeting, where he was engaged to preach. He was much blessed by God and preached mightily on 2 Samuel 11 and the effects sin has on us. Powerful, convicting and encouraging – God be praised! Saturday, I got many random errands done, then went to Natalie and Andrew’s engagement/wedding party in the afternoon, where it was awesome to celebrate their soon marriage!! Sunday was church and afterwards, I went straight home and did various household chores before finally sitting down and having my dinner of leftover lasagna and a tomato salad. And…with my dinner, watched Return of the King. It’d been far too long. And even more fun was me and Maryanne watched it in sync, so we got to text each other random comments back and forth as we watched. Fun times…just wished we lived closer so we could watch in person!!! Alas. Oh! I also was much engaged in writing yesterday afternoon…got a powerful urge to put a story to paper, even though I am now doubting my literary powers and ability to do the themes of this story justice. I’m about 2200 words in and halfway done, but it is most rough so far and I am unsure whether it will get to where it needs to be. We shall see. I need to fly now, but shall leave you the opening…sorry to be such a tease. Love you all, my friends!!

A window stained, spattered with raindrops and grim in both general aura and appearance. Thunder rumbled in the far off distance and the harsh neon lights glared into the window, through the rain streaked plastic and into the cramped room. The room, mean in appearance and dim lit with a single lamp beside the bed, had a singularly utilitarian appearance. A bed, a sink and a mirror. Nothing more, nothing less. Nothing more was needed. Nothing less was used.

To Trust in the Unseen

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Hello all!! Just finished my lunch here at work and about to get back to it, but I noticed I have approximately seven minutes remaining of my lunch break, so might as well write something here, since it has been a few days!! I really need time to write much much more, but I am hampered by various constraints so no long post today. This past weekend I was in Nebraska/Iowa with the family(and extended family!) for Grandma Hogan’s funeral. I don’t even know if I can quite do justice to this time with my ill-chosen words, so I will not even try at this time. But I do want to state how good my God is, how abundantly faithful and richly compassionate He has been to one as weak and low as me. Oh how joyous to think on that glorious day when I shall see my God face to face!! This is what I long for, truly. Someday. Someday.

And now my time flees and I think it’s best I not write anymore. Be at peace, one and all. Much love, my friends.

A Note

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Hello friends…and happy Monday!! I don’t have time to write long, but thought I should dash down a few words here, even though I can’t properly chronicle the weekend! Alas. Still, a good one was had(even though I was busy every night and didn’t quite get in a relaxing rest night like I had planned!) Still, I can only thank and bless my God for all His goodness, for all His love. I was able to sing praises to my God in a hymn-sing that John put on, Friday night…oh so joyous!! And then dinner and good chat with new friends(plus John!). Saturday involved a quality coffee morning and many more conversations at the Maresh’s, followed by watching the new Jason Bourne movie with Julie(it was a good movie…but definitely not up to the standards of the previous three. Oh well. Still awesome seeing Matt Damon be amazing on the big screen!!) Then I had a craving for lasagna so of course…had to go home and make that for dinner!! Julie came over to help me eat it and we watched so many good Olympics events(and had some good chat interspersed!). Saturday night was an excellent Olympics night…Mo Farah taking the gold(again!!) in the 10k – so thrilling, especially as I remembered watching it from my Calsayseat flat four years ago!! – then Michael Phelps dominating in the pool one last time…Sunday, many more fun things happened, but I simply don’t have the time to write about them now!! Sorry for this poorly constructed, somewhat rambling entry, but just wanted to write these things down so that I always point back to them and…remember the goodness of the Lord. Be well, my friends – take courage and live today for the glory of our God and Father!!

Rio

James HoganLeave a comment

Hello friends, happy Monday!! A quick post before work…hope that’s acceptable to you all! I realise I haven’t posted in quite a while, so thought I’d write something just to break up the monotony here! August is steadily rolling on here in Houston and I am quite ready for summer to hurry up and leave. It’s been quite sweltering these past few months and I’ve reached that point where I’m not really welcoming the constant sunshine and heat any longer. Oh well, suppose I shouldn’t complain, since at least there hasn’t been any flooding in Houston for approximately two months. A new record!

Enough of the weather though…a fun weekend has been had here – actually a quite busy one! We had our community group barbecue on Saturday afternoon. That was a relaxing time, full of yummy burgers and other assorted foods of course, but the best part was just hanging out with friends and having quality conversations. Then last night, went out to celebrate Annie’s birthday. More good food, more good conversations…and some quality game playing(featuring Four Men on a Couch – which is always hilarious when played late at night when everyone is tired and not entirely thinking clearly…). Besides all that, just good times talking with people, including but not limited to Julian, Isaac and Julie…)

And of course, the other notable part of this weekend was the beginning of the 2016 Summer Olympics! I do so love the Olympics and it’s been just grand watching them yet again. So very excited for these next few weeks!! Julie came over Friday night and we watched the opening ceremonies in Rio – it was a joyous and exuberant beginning of the Games and much enjoyed watching the athletes of over two hundred nations march into the stadium. Love it! The past few days, have watched much volleyball and swimming and road cycling and other various sports…and for the next few weeks to come, will enjoy much more daily sport in the form of Olympics. Hurrah! It’s also a bit bittersweet as I remember back to the last Summer Games – the London 2012 Olympics. And when I was – of course – in Aberdeen as those occurred. (And yes, even was in London for a few days with Joel to witness some of the events in person!) And so as I think back to those fun days in Scotland, I do get a bit nostalgic…remembering how blessed I was to enjoy the time I did there. God blessed me much no? And oh yes – He blesses me still. Always remember. Always.

Now, I must be off. Peace, one and all!