Hello friends!! It’s Saturday morning here at Starbucks and I’m just about to leave…I actually am forced to leave, because I need to go pick up my car from its annual inspection. Here’s to hoping it passed! (It better have…) Anyway, this Saturday is set to be a very productive one(I hope), since I plan on doing a bunch of cleaning at my place and following that…some solid writing time just needs to happen. I’ve been meaning to write something substantial for some time now, and I swear, I shall force myself to do so. Since Starbucks writing clearly isn’t working, going to just ensconce myself in my living room at home and hope my couch isn’t too comfortable to keep me from writing something properly beautiful. We shall see – I must at least experiment and get myself out of this extremely bad habit of not writing! (Oh and as always…if any of you have some writing ideas/prompts you would like to share, I would be ever so grateful. Truly) Now, I must fly. Peace my friends – have a most glorious Saturday!!!
Trekking
Happy Thursday, friends!! No big news here in Houston, but just thought I’d say hi as I slowly prepare to begin work. In approximately five minutes. Today is a “dress-up” day – wearing my fancy shoes and a tie today just for fun. Yes, that’s what counts for fun these days!! Currently enjoying a hot cup of coffee and an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. It’s homemade and delicious, so that counts as a decent breakfast, right? Right?? Anyways, I’m off now – have a most brilliant day, one and all!!
And I See the Sun!
So I may have just done something rash.
I purchased tickets for a holiday to Aberdeen this September. Should I have?? Maybe not, but well…I really craved a decent holiday in some far off country among dear friends. And I have not seen my friends in Aberdeen in far too long. So. It is time to return. Maybe I shall rue this decision in the next few days, but I don’t think so. I see the friends the Almighty God has blessed me with and I wish to see their faces again. Oh how lovely will it be to talk with all of them face to face!! Chris and Jo, Rose, John, Ruth, Graham and Tineke, Joel…and so so many others I won’t mention here now. I’m really rather excited just now – it has been too long Scotland. And I planned it well enough that I will celebrate my three-year anniversary of leaving Scotland…in Scotland. September 11th, 2013. And it is now 2016. How the years do tick by, methodically and unhindered by any desire on our parts for time to stand still. There’s only one person who’s ever gotten God to stop time, and my name is not Joshua!! But before I start rambling further…maybe I should sign off and walk off into the bright Texas sun. Thinking of a chicken/broccoli/mushroom stir fry dinner for tonight. Yes? Yes.
Also, I lied. I do sort of want to keep rambling. Been thinking about my walk with God lately, and how precious it is to know Him, deeply and intimately. Too often do we talk of the externals in our life, of our living situation, our delicious home cooked meals, our fun adventures around town, our pleasant diversions. And none of these things are bad in and of themselves, I think we can agree. But in the end of all things, are we letting ourselves be too diverted by the things of this world? Possibly. I know I fall into the trap of living in the world without remembering often enough that I am not of this world. And so do we get swept up by the torrents of the Charybdis of this life in the flesh. Let us remember that the pleasant things of this world are just that – of this world. And that our true joy should come from the knowledge that we are known by God and part of His family. Let us utterly delight in the communion we have with God through the indwelling of His Spirit in us. Imagine that – God’s Spirit – in us! What foolishness it sounds. Yet most profoundly and shockingly true!! And so I urge you all, my most dear and gentle readers, to think on the simple wonder and grave truth of God’s hand upon us as we walk through this earthly life. The sirens of earthly delight wail on every side, yet plug your ears to their call and remember the most pure and heavenly music that is God’s covenant with us. Think on that far country where all songs rise to the One who sits on the throne. Meditate on the delightfully sweet fruit of communing with Christ our Saviour. Fall on your knees and pray to the Lord and blissfully think on who God is. Sweetly rest and delight in this God. The God. My Lord and my God.
And let the homeward call of the Spirit ever resound in your hearts.
Peace, my friends. Peace and love. Always.
A Situation
The loss of oxygen was actually not that alarming, considering the circumstances. Multiple alarms warbled in imperfect harmony and far too many lights flashed persistently on the status boards. Irritated at her ship’s newfound desire to self-destruct, Juliet jerked her control cord to a new setting and hissed quietly in frustration. It was going to be close. Groaning in arrhythmic stutters, the chamber around Juliet’s pilot pod began to heat up. This was not entirely unexpected, but a bit too soon for comfort. Juliet glanced at the altitude indicator again and bit her lip. She needlessly tightened the strap on her rebreather and flipped the final switch. In one last protest, the structure surrounding her began to crumble into nothingness. Outside lay blackness and flame. Juliet leaned her head back and sighed. An explosion of soundless beauty. And then, the lights came on.
Closing her eyes, Juliet asked in barely concealed anger, “So how’d I do?”
“You died,” came the disembodied voice in her earbuds. “Again.”
“Really?” scoffed Juliet. “Well then, let’s run it one last time.” Her eyes flashed purple fire. “Again.”
A Hint of Cinnamon
Hello friends!! It’s a bright and sunny Saturday afternoon here in Houston – I currently sit in Starbucks, as is my custom many a Saturday. I have been doing random things of an internet nature and have spent far too much time on crafting my next two mix CDs. One is a standard indie/alt/folk mix…still doesn’t quite flow right, but it’s getting there. Lots of Oh Hellos, Josh Garrels and Beach House!! The second CD is a dance mix…something I’ve been wanting to do for a while, but just haven’t got around to it. I’m not quite sure who else will like it besides me, but it’s coming together nicely. David Guetta, deadmau5, Laura Izibor…it’s a very interesting and peppy mix thus far!
Anyways, I’m also looking at random flights to Aberdeen…I really don’t know if I should travel there, but I miss people and I’m very tempted and the prices are actually decently reasonable. So we’ll see. Would flying out there in September be too rash of a decision?? Don’t answer that.
I’m also feeling rather tired and sick lately(not fun)…not sure if it’s allergy related or just some other random sickness, but I’m just extremely low on energy lately. Hence today, after having breakfast with Brandon and Chase, came back to my place and almost fell asleep again on my couch!! Well, today’s going to be a quiet day, so hopefully I regain some of my energy. Have leftover lasagna in the fridge…thinking I’ll have that with a fresh tomato salad for dinner. If anything will cheer me up, that’ll do it!
Now I really wanted to write something creative and inspiring today, but I’m really not feeling it now. Sadly. Even with multiple cups of coffee today. Alas, my muse, why do you leave me all alone??
I’m going to sign off and drink the rest of my coffee and just sit and think and pray here. Maybe I shall write something else too, maybe not. But whatever I do, thanking the Lord my God for who He is and what He has done for me – I owe all to Him. He is my Lord. He is my God!!!
Heart of Chambers
I am at peace.
A most beautiful afternoon comes to an end(indeed, a beautiful day!!). I write this from my apartment in Houston, just having woken up from a lovely ten minute nap so pardon me if my words are slightly sleepy sounding. But I simply must chronicle today so that I always remember the goodness of my God to me. This morning, worshiped God at church with my fellow brothers and sisters, reveling in the revelation of our Lord we have been granted! “Holy holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty”…our voices rose up to heaven in praise, accompanied by the skillfully played organ. Let us never forget the majesty and undeniable beauty and mercy and might that belong to the God of the universe, this God we serve. Singing these words of praise..oh how I long for the days to come when we in heaven will join the chorus of every created thing! O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise!!
And how do I follow that up? Well, I cannot, surely. Yet I enjoyed a delightful afternoon with Julie at the sports bar watching the Euro final, Portugal v France. Sadly, despite our great hope(and Julie’s cheering in French!!), Portugal grabbed the 1-0 victory and title of 2016 Euro Champions. Despite my disappointment, it was fun to see them all happy and dancing as they celebrated!! And of course, during the ever-more-nervous-making game watching, Julie and I had some lovely talking time – as always!!
Then, made my way to the store and then home…And I brewed some coffee, put some classic Beach House on the record player, and then enjoyed some luscious minutes reading Owen on the satisfactory death of Christ, and what it means for us. Christ died to save sinners. I read those five words and I am blown away. What stunning mercy. What beautiful love. And so now I sit, at peace and and at rest. Peace, my friends. I love you all ever so much.
Now, I will make my turkey burgers for dinner, and also am planning to read some more Owen. I will finish his Volume II tonight, I think. Only eight pages to go. It’s only taken me a year!!! But first. Dinnertime.
Peace and love.
Raise a Glass
Hello my friends, and happy Tuesday! I am in work early today, trying to get some things done before the office fills up. So right now it is quite quiet here and I thought I’d at least take the chance to write a few words here…
A tattered flag waves in the salt fragrant wind, all its faded colours on display,
And I sigh and ask myself if it is enough to merely stand strong and silent
Or shall I pour myself another cup of coffee and begin to have my say?
I think both options are fairly equal, although words serve just to draw out the pain
And at the end of all things, I confess my heart is burdened and oh so weary
Still I trust God and look to that far country as I stand amidst the pouring rain.
VCR
You used to have all the answers
And you, you still have them too
And we, we live half in the daytime
And we, we live half at night
Watch things on vcrs
With me and talk about big love
I think we’re superstars
You say you think we are the best thing
And you, you just know
You just do
I wanna find myself by the sea
In another’s company
By the sea
I wanna go out to the pier
I’m gonna dive and have no fear
‘Cause you, you just know
You just do
Watch things on vcrs
With me and talk about big love
I think we’re superstars
You say you think we are the best thing
And you, you just know
You just do
(Note: this song is not written by me…!!)
Despite All the Tears
Good morning, friends!! I have but a few minutes before work begins this fine Wednesday morning, but thought I’d write here nonetheless. This has been a pretty quiet week so far and I have no big plans(Chase might be coming over tonight, and I get to see Earnie tomorrow night!) and I must say, I’ve much enjoyed the last few weeks of relative quietude and rest – God has been so good to me in giving me some restful, relaxing times with Him! I read a few more words in Owen’s Communion with God this morning on the deity of the Holy Spirit – I’m currently on the section on the vindication of the Trinity. Truly wondrous reading. Every time I read a few more pages, I’m stunned anew by the glory and beauty of God. So wonderful and marvelous and high above all else is our God! I’m only forty pages from the end of this volume, at which point I think it’s time I switch it up a bit and begin Iain Murray’s biography on Martyn-Lloyd Jones. Much excited for that!! Ok, enough about my reading, as I probably enjoy writing about it much more than you care to listen. Have a most lovely day, my friends. Peace!
Drums in the Deep
Morning, all! Happy Friday from sunny Houston! I am about to kick off this working day, but just wanted to type a few words. I actually wanted to try and write a quick poem, but alas – I spent too long looking at all the news post-British referendum(the UK voted yesterday, in a surprising result, to leave the EU. I stayed up far too late last night watching the BBC report on results as they rolled in…). This is truly an interesting time to be alive and I am very intrigued(not to mention a small bit worried) to see the fallout of this. The right of a nation to freedom, democracy and self-determination is a grand thing, but…the loss of unity and cohesion in Europe is also deeply disturbing. The flags of nationalism are being jubilantly waved across the land and Europe is in turmoil. God preserve us. And yet, as I can too easily at times imagine the negative consequences of events, I can also be comforted by the fact that God is sovereign and that He holds this world in His hands. Jesus is the same today, tomorrow and forever.
Something Weird 