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It’s a lovely Sunday afternoon – one of my favorite times of the week!! As I enjoy my coffee(sweetened with chocolate-raspberry creamer, mmm…) on this beautiful day, I can’t help but marvel at the goodness of the LORD!

And even though I wanted to write a proper update here(it’s been a while, has it not?), I for some reason don’t feel in a writing mood. Alas. I feel like I’m more in a nap mood!! And that’s mostly because I just have not been getting my sleep lately…late night on Friday, and then the Redeemer’s men breakfast was early Saturday morning. And it was awesome. But it kept me from sleeping in…and then I went and got a haircut and after that saw Julie for lunch. Excellent time catching up and eating good burger and imbibing far too much coffee…anyway, eventually made it back to my place to make brownies! I made them because Melissa had a birthday party last night and I wanted to bring SOMETHING. So I made brownies while watching Roman Holiday(yes, I was in a nostalgic mood – and I totally forgot how hilarious that movie is. Highly recommended). Anyways, I took out the brownies too early so they were really not-quite-done. Not necessarily a bad thing. But still. I then drove the Houstonesque(my new word for really long drives) distance to Melissa’s house. Great times there just relaxing with people and talking and laughing…from trying to share Monty Python jokes with the uninitiated to debating male figure skating…good times indeed. But good times almost always equal little sleep and thus I woke up exhausted this morning for church. Nothing a little coffee couldn’t cure though! Sweet time at church(starting a new Sunday school – Bill Christen teaching through James…it’s going to be epic) and now I’m home just enjoying the loving-kindnesses of my Savior.

And wow, I guess I was in more of a writing mood than I thought!! Anyways, I really am going now – I might catch a wink or two of sleep before I make a sweet dinner(spaghetti with yummy Italian sausage and spinach salad on the side). So farewell to all!!

Oh and USA is playing Canada in Olympics hockey today(prelim round, but still). Go USA!!!

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Today was pretty sweet. Just saying.

And why, you may ask?? Well, first of all it was a gloriously crisp day, full of that early February chill and yet the sun still shone. And church was magnificently encouraging. And this afternoon was pretty much the most refreshing and uplifting afternoon of all time!! (Going through old notebooks of favorite Scripture = awesomeness)

And then this evening, went to a Super Bowl party at the Field’s house. The Saints beat the Colts(sadness…I wanted Peyton to get the win…oh well) but the best part wasn’t the game, but just hanging out with everyone!!! Lots of people from church were there(Alex, Joseph, Adam, Marci, Claire, and lots of others…would take too long to list everyone!!) At halftime, a bunch of us played a few games of round-the-world ping-pong. Epic awesomeness. After the game, we probably played another twenty games of that. No, that’s NOT hyperbole. So trust me when I say I’m exhausted now!!! My shower felt VERY well deserved. Anyways, after a thoroughly amazing day, I feel like bed is calling my name…so g’night all and may God bless you in this coming week!!

Worthy are You to take the book
and to break its seals; for You
were slain, and purchased for
God with Your blood men from
every tribe and tongue and people
and nation.
You have made them to be a
kingdom and priests to our God;
and they will reign upon the
earth.
-Revelation 5:9

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Be Thou my vision, O LORD of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word.
I ever with Thee, Thou with me, LORD;
Thou my great Father, I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for the fight.
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul’s shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heav’ns Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

Amen and Amen and Amen!!!!!!

James HoganLeave a comment

I climbed the golden ladder,
and swam the silver streams,
and kissed the lovely adder
who promised all my dreams.

And while I dream in technicolor
but live in black and white
I fear my past is shaded duller
in the fires of the night.

And the fire whispered to me
and the darkness gripped my hand,
I tried to cry for mercy
but my lips tasted only sand.

And so the dunes embalmed my heart
and the vultures picked my soul.

And yet
He wept
at the
touch of
death on
fallen
man.

And yet
I wept
to know
the touch
of the
living
God.

And yet.

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I’ve had a pretty awesome Christmas, what! Cinnamon rolls, bacon, giving and receiving presents, relaxing and reading in my room with Maryanne and Laura, playing epic Monopoly(of which I was the champion!!), playing brutal Spades games(of which me and Katharyn SHOULD have been the champions), best-meal-ever-lasagna, more goofing off with sisters, enjoying the company of the best family EVER, and relaxing in the goodness of the LORD Almighty. ‘nough said? Yes.

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Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the LORD appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the LORD through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call his name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the LORD commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called his name Jesus.
-Matthew 1:18-25

How good is our God. All praise to the LORD of the universe, who sent His Son that we might have life abundantly!!! Amen!!

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Don’t have time for a long entry now…just wanted to say that being back in Florida with the fam is pretty awesome!!!! Been eating sumptuous meals, relaxing on the couch with the sisters, playing cards(and winning – me and Maryanne dominate at Spades, just sayin’), watching crazy movies(Vertigo with Jimmy Stewart…awesomeness), playing mini-golf all day long, proof-reading my little sisters’ stories they’re writing…yep, pretty much just good times. And now about to go to Panera for lunch with Katharyn…YES. Hope everyone is having as relaxing and sweet a Christmas break as me!!!! Alright, signing off.

James HoganLeave a comment

GUESS WHAT.

It is cold here. Like…in the 40s!!! It was great walking to the gym and feeling the wintry air blowing around me!! And driving home was simply marvelous…the clouds hung heavy in the sky, so still they seemed to be painted onto the roof of the world, and yet the deep purple swirls and dark grey tendrils and light blue dapples were more beautiful than a painting could ever be. And as I drove over the highway the sun appeared and light dropped from the reaches of the heavens and dripped onto the clouds like butter on popcorn, bathing the sky in a heavenly golden glow and dwarfing all the nearby buildings of concrete and steel in the magnificence of the setting of the sun.

Oh, what a beautiful day.

James HoganLeave a comment

I’m listening to the rain softly come down outside my window as I sit inside nice and warm and eat my peach yogurt in sweet contentment. Just got home from work a few minutes ago and so nice to unwind and relax…and I thought that it has been a while since I’ve done a proper update…so here we go!!

I wish I had time to write about everything that’s happened since my last update, but that would probably take all night and then I wouldn’t have any dinner and I would be very sad. So this will just cover this past week! In which…Thanksgiving happened!! This past summer, I was trying to decided if I would travel to Tampa or not for Thanksgiving, but I finally came to the conclusion that I would miss my family too much…and thus would have to come home(sorry Deanna!!). So on Wednesday night I drove from work to the airport and flew back to wonderful Florida!!! Dad and Maryanne and Laura picked me up at the airport and we went home!!! It was such an extreme joy seeing everyone again…and being able to relax at home and sleep in my old bed! Wednesday night I probably should have gone to bed early…but nah. Stayed up talking to the fam for a while and even after the parents went to bed, stayed up with Maryanne and Laura just talking and reliving old times…and enjoying the goodness of the LORD in giving me such a family of awesomeness!!

Next day(oh dear, we are going to be here for a while, aren’t we?) was Thanksgiving!! I slept in really late and then had coffee with the fam and pretty much just enjoyed the Tampa morning…and then came afternoon, in which we went over to Steve and Vickie’s for Thanksgiving!! As always, it was such sweet times being with them…we took a bunch of pictures early on(I think me and Maryanne and Laura MAY have gotten one or two good ones of the three of us…) and played with the dog in the backyard before having dinner. Dinner was abundant and glorious and supremely delicious: tender turkey, buttery potatoes, my favorite stuffing, black and green olives, mouth-watering asparagus….and the list goes on and on…and of course the decadent pumpkin and cherry and pecan pies came later. But of course, the food wasn’t the best part. The best part was being with my family and relaxing in the goodness of the LORD together. And truly, I can’t explain it any better than that.

Friday started off a bit early as I woke up and drove towards Dunedin….for what purpose you may ask?? Well, Shari was in town!! We knew we were near each other so we decided what could be more perfect than a breakfast together?? We met at First Watch and had the most awesome time hanging out…I have to say, I let my food linger way too long as it was so much more fun to catch up with Shar and just enjoy her company…I do so enjoy being able to talk and relax with good friends!! Sadly, time flowed by far too quickly and we soon had to part ways…as I had shopping to do! Well, not really. But I’d planned to take my sisters to the mall, so to the mall we went! I didn’t buy anything, but it was fun just to walk around and see the massive throng of people in pursuit of happiness. Actually, did I say fun? It was actually kind of depressing…just knowing that the pleasures of this world are so fleeting and can never truly satisfy the hole in our souls. And knowing that those who are blind chase after the joys of this world because they are lost and know nothing else. Or no One else. Because only Jesus can truly satisfy. And He satisfies truly!

And now to get back to the narrative, after our mall adventure, we all went and got a Christmas tree! That night was spent relaxing with the family and enjoying some yummy apple pie. We had to go to bed a bit early because the next day…an adventure was in store!!

The next morning, me and Maryanne got up early and made the journey to the land of the Gators…to Gainesville I returned!! Since it was the day of the Gators/Noles game, the traffic was horrendously slow…and it took us about four hours to make the normally two hour trip. Upon arriving, we drove around Gainesville picking up our tickets(yay Laura K for giving me hers!!!!!) and finally we entered the Swamp in eager anticipation of the game to come!! It was Tim Tebow’s last game and everyone was both mournful(over his loss) and exultant(over his magnificent career!). It always seems a bit weird to me how much praise and adulation people can heap onto one man(the flashbulbs from the cameras on his last drive…wow, it was like a horde of fireflies in a perfectly dark night!!) and ignore the God who made him so…but that’s how it is. Me and Maryanne sat in the RUF block where we found Cindy and later Dream and David and Katie!! Again, so amazingly awesome to see good friends after long separations!! The game was triumphant, as predicted(Gators 37, Noles 10!!) and while I enjoyed watching the game and enjoying the domination of the Gator Nation, I enjoyed even more being with Maryanne and friends. Truly, I wonder why I doubt the goodness of the LORD at times, when I see what amazing friends and family He has given to me on this earth!! And after bidding farewell to everyone in Gainesville, I made the drive back to Tampa, arriving home exhausted but happy.

And as I am now getting VERY hungry, Sunday sadly won’t get too long of a paragraph. Church was so sweet – again, seeing everyone and talking and sharing my life in Houston with the Tampa gang! After church, went home where Dad made pork chops and potatoes and green beans and we feasted on that as I enjoyed my last meal with my mom and dad for some time…

After some yard work and last-minute packing, I was off to the Tampa airport!!

It was kind of hard coming back to work on Monday morning, but I am truly grateful for my job. I just miss my family and friends…and though I sometimes wish they could all be in Houston with me…that’s not the way things are! And so I know there are awesome people and things here in Houston that I’ve been blessed with…and I rejoice. And I know that weather I’m in Tampa or Houston…I have no fear of the future or doubt for the present or shame of the past…because the LORD is my God. And He is always with me. And in that exultant note…farewell all!!! I hope all of your Thanksgivings were as blessed and awesomely magnificent as mine!!!!

Ok.

Dinner time.