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I’m currently in the middle of enjoying a lovely Sunday!! I realized(ok, actually it was pointed out to me…) that I haven’t written anything in here in quite a while. Oops. Anyways, I’m still rocking out in Houston…and I think finally getting used to the “big-city” life! Well, at least I’m used to the traffic. The other morning I was driving to work and it seemed as if the floodgates of heaven were open…rain was just pouring down. I used to like rain, and I still do…but NOT when I’m driving to work along with a few million other people. Because then I’m late to work. Grr.

But in non-work news(or…sorta-work news), I’m coming back to Gainesville this week!! I’m coming for the career showcase to recruit for Cameron. Is that weird or what? Seriously, it’s going to be a little strange to be interviewing people that I sat in classes with. But I can’t wait to see people again!!! I’ve already got a breakfast planned with Rob…that will be so sweet. Finally we’ll get to really catch up and talk and encourage each other and just…yes. It’ll be sweet. Wait, did I already say that? No matters, it deserves to be said again.

And I’ll get to see Maryanne too!! It will be strange(but AWESOME) to chill with her at UF!! And of course, seeing everyone else(everyone being people that are still in Gainesville, that is) is going to be amazingly awesome. Ahh, how I do miss college times. Yet I have to say that I’m glad I’m in Houston, because I am indeed getting to know some cool people here too. And while I can’t quite say I call Houston my home…I can definitely say I’m content. Because God is with me. And He is good indeed.

And now I think I want to take a short Sunday nap(Huzzah!!), but first…

Preserve me, O God, for I take
refuge in You.
I said to the LORD, “You are
my Lord;
I have no good besides You.”
-Psalm 16:1-2

And now time to relax…enjoy the beauty of the LORD, y’all!!!

James HoganLeave a comment

And I saw heaven opened, and
behold, a white horse, and He who sat
on it is called Faithful and True, and
in righteousness He judges and wages
war. His eyes are a flame of fire,
and on His head are many diadems;
and He has a name written on Him
which no one knows except Himself.
He is clothed with a robe dipped in
blood, and His name is called The
Word of God. And the armies which
are in heaven, clothed in fine linen,
white and clean, were following Him
on white horses. From His mouth
comes a sharp sword, so that with it He
may strike down the nations, and He
will rule them with a rod of iron; and
He treads the wine press of the fierce
wrath of God, the Almighty. And on
His robe and on His thigh He has a
name written, “KING OF KINGS,
AND LORD OF LORDS.”

-Revelation 19:11-16

I was walking to the gym after work today and a storm was coming. As I walked, I was singing to myself a song from my church in Tampa, a song directly from the verses I quoted above…and as I got to the part, “His name is called The Word of God…”, at that very moment, lightning flashed down in every direction around me…and the thunder built to a glorious crescendo, punctuating the beauty of the storm. I stood struck with awe. And I was reminded(why do we forget!!) of the power and righteousness and mercy and perfection and glory and holiness and love and justice and compassion of the Almighty.

How great is the LORD!!!!

James HoganLeave a comment

Well, it’s been a long Saturday(but a good one!!) and I am now quite exhausted…but I figure it’s been too long since I’ve written a decent update. All my latest ones have been under 100 words! Terrible! So I’ve decided it’s time for a proper multi-page entry…so buckle your seatbelts, boys and girls…it’s time to rock and roll.

By update, I really mean I’ve had lots of random thoughts and I keep meaning to put them to paper yet I almost always have my best thoughts in the car where it’s quite impossible to write anything. Although I have been known to scribble in my notebook at stoplights…hmm, let’s keep that under wraps, shall we? But seriously, why do my best(and strangest) ideas come when I’m driving? Most annoying.

Anyway, something I realize anew almost every morning is the grandeur and might and beauty of God…as I watch the sun rise over Houston. I’m so very blessed in that I drive east on the interstate to get to work, and thus as soon as I get on the on-ramp, I’m struck full in the face with the sun striding up through the clouds…sometimes in a sky clear as crystal, other times(most times!) in a sky where the clouds diffract the light into a spectrum of gorgeousness. And as I see the light wash over the cars rushing off to work and money and ambition and power…and as I see the rays strike the skyscrapers so suddenly diminished in comparison to the massive clouds of brilliance overwhelming all Houston has to offer…I feel conflicting emotions of utter joy and deepest sadness. Joy to see the works of the LORD arrayed in the heavens. Sadness because so few see it so. How can everyone else driving to work not see the Hand of the Almighty????

And now pause for a piano interlude.

Because no, this party isn’t over yet! Consider the previous as Musings, Pt. 1. Part 2 will follow shortly, but before I dive into the scary contents of my thoughts, I thought I’d give you all a chance to catch your breath. Seriously, all you who read everything I write get mad props, because I don’t even fully grasp all that I’m writing! My thoughts(and everyone’s, I’ll wager) seem to be a interweaving of multicoloured threads…and to follow one thread to completion would be a marvel. But, enough on that tangent. Have I lost everyone yet? Ok, good.

Another thing I think about enough on my drive to work is the power and danger and beauty and poison and utter mystery that is music. I hinted at this subject in my last post, but as I didn’t have enough time to explain myself, I kept it vague. But now my time is unlimited and my fingers are spry and I’m ready to drown you all in a flood of words. Gosh, I really am getting long-winded in my old age.

But, music. One of the craziest and most beautiful of the creative gift our Father’s bestowed upon us. Driving off to work, I tend to play my favorite “pump-up” music to get my mind in gear for the work day…and one of the albums I’ve been playing a lot lately is one by Sonata Arctica. The album(“Reckoning Night”) is a work of pure genius. Remember that top five album thing I did a few months back? Well, if I repeated it now, I’m pretty sure this album would take at least the 3rd spot, if not higher. For me, the album’s melodies and rhythms and crazy awesome guitar and haunting piano and intermingling of raw emotion throughout struck me deeply. The songs range from heartrendingly sad to breathtakingly furious and they strike a chord in my soul. And why have I practically written a review of this album? Precisely because it echoes so well what I feel music does for everyone. I doubt everyone will feel the same I do about this album(and please don’t think I’ve fallen in love or pledged my life to these songs!), but haven’t you ever felt the emotions whirling within you when you heard your favorite album, or band, or song? Haven’t you ever felt like the song matches your deepest desires and feelings that you didn’t even know you had? Haven’t you felt like the music opened up a mirror in which you were looking at yourself? And this is why music is so beautiful and yet so dangerous. It opens us up to ourselves. And we are dangerous indeed.

Music opens up ourselves and gives the key of our emotions to the stereo. It releases our cries of longing and pleads of love into the open. The intellectual is subdued before the power of the emotional. At our depths, we are people who want to be loved. Who want to be wanted. Who want to be known. And our soul screams for meaning and begs for fulfillment. And in music, there is that faintest echo.

And I don’t want you all to think I’m decrying music as the work of the devil! Indeed, I love music(and will continue to!), but music is not the answer. It’s a thing of beauty that our most glorious Father has given to us! But it is not the balm that will heal our souls. It is not the jewel of great price. It is not the answer to our heart’s pain. But there is One who is.

And that’s all for tonight, folks. Enjoy the epicness of this post. And if anyone read all that, they get TWO cookies. That’s right. Enjoy the beauty of the night!! …and this little present for anyone who made it this far:

The orange disc slid across
the curve of the
early morning sky.
The traveler’s mouth dropped
open in awe,
so shattering was the
beauty of the sun
in the soft gray sky.

It seemed as if a
smear of purest light had
been dropped on a
dirty canvas.

James HoganLeave a comment

I really don’t like being sick, because it’s so…annoying. I feel like I haven’t had energy in so long and I would be most happy if my coughing would go away. And I wanted to write an entry in here tonight about music and its intoxicating effect on our emotions and its mirroring of our deepest pleadings of our heart…and the joys and dangers thereof. BUT. I am sick. And therefore my energy to write is rapidly waning. I am displeased with myself. So, hold me to this promise to write that entry some other time…when my strength matches my will!

And now it’s time for dinner and bed. Hurrah for the simple things of life!

James HoganLeave a comment

Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless
His holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with
lovingkindness and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with
good things,
So that your youth is renewed
like the eagle.

Bless the LORD, all you works of His,
In all places of His dominion;
Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Psalm 103:1-5, 22

James HoganLeave a comment

Don’t have time for a long entry, but thought I’d just dash off a quick note as I wait for my mac-and-cheese to finish cooking! I think I can even hold this to a paragraph! First of all, I’m looking forward to the next couple months because two of my fav bands(Relient K and Muse) are coming out with new albums within a month of each other this fall!!! And secondly, Dream and David are now married. And that really deserves a whole BOOK to write about the awesomeness of their wedding and the joyous sunlit promise of their lives to come!!!! BUT thirdly, my dinner is ready. Farewell all! Have a sweet evening!!

James HoganLeave a comment

A bit mildly depressing to notice that my last entry here had me wake up at 4:30 in the morning…and that’s when I woke up this morning too! I don’t really MIND waking up that early – it just means I have to go to bed quite early! And no, I am not going to reveal my bedtime last night.

Anyway, just thought I’d write a short update(it will be short – I PROMISE!) and say how awesome my past few days have been!! I have to say, as different and crazy as Houston is, I’m starting to enjoy it here. Starting with last Friday, I had a sweet dinner party-thing at my place…my apartment finally got broken in! Had a few people from church(Clay, Engle, Adam and Marci) and Julie from UF! It was much times of awesomeness. I made pork chops(sorry you missed it, Galan!) and we played games and hung out and talked…such sweet times. I have to say that one of my favorite things was the fascination everyone had with my bookshelf! I quite like my books and it makes me oh-so-happy when others do too!! Anyways, that was a beautiful night, even though I was quite exhausted by the time everyone went home! The rest of the weekend was mega relaxing and involved more hanging out with people and enjoying the delightful rest of the LORD!

And then Monday night was another amazing night – me and Rob(from church, not RobG!) went to the house of another couple in our church. Their house was way out in the country(he’d built the whole thing from the foundation up!) and driving out in the country was such a refreshing experience…finally I got to see some real Texas! I must admit, I wouldn’t mind living in the country some day. Such beauty. I think sometimes we lose that…living in cities of concrete and steel may be efficient, but it sure isn’t as soothing as soaking in the untainted air and brighter sun of the country…alas, these caves of steel we’ve constructed for ourselves seem to have become an integral part of our society.

And however did I get so off topic? Well anyways, we went to their house and it was such a sweet night of fellowship! We had a delicious dinner, but better by far was our conversations…where it went from discussing our backgrounds to the mysteries of the Bible..indeed, I felt so blessed to be in their house and to be encouraged thus! And driving home and seeing bright pinpoints of stars in the clear night above…amazing.

And oh no. This entry has gotten long! Oops. Just know that I’ve had such an awesome last few days. Oh, and God is good. Actually, that’s always true! Well, it’s about time for me to make my dinner(chicken caesar salad, yeah!) so farewell! Time to dominate up the rest of the night!

James HoganLeave a comment

I’ve just had the most lovely day. And to think it all started at 4:30…yes, in the morning! You may wonder why I was so insane to wake up at such a dreary hour…and yes, there is a very good reason! But first of all, I must enlighten you all on the beauty that is early morning…for some reason, there’s nothing quite like being awake and knowing that most people around you are drifting through sleep and yet I’m enjoying the beauty of the night while looking towards the coming of the sun! Ahh, I love it.

Anyways, where was I? Ah, yes. The reason I was up so early! Well, Deanna was in town! For about…an hour. But of course, could I pass up the chance to see her one last time before she goes off to the far away country of Hungary? Of course not. So me and Julie met up with her at Starbucks(after random adventures getting lost in the massive airport!) and had coffee(mmm, mocha goodness..) and enjoyed just being together, even if it was for a mere hour. And then…she left us. I don’t think it’s really hit me that I won’t even be able to see her for a whole YEAR. Ridiculous. And…sad. So I will not talk about this anymore.

SO. CHANGING SUBJECTS. After that, I left the airport(changing clothes in my car before I left!) and drove straight to church! Which was very sweet, I must say. Again, it makes me realize how much I need to worship and fellowship with other followers of Christ! I so miss Gainesville, where I could do that basically every day! Galan, Andrew, Rob…we had a sweet apartment. I miss y’all.

Ah, but how good is my Father to give me an awesome church here in Houston! I really don’t know why I fear and why I get anxious about my future. I’m so silly! So, yeah, today was pretty sweet. And I’ve had an awesome afternoon after church just relaxing. I do so appreciate the rest that God gives us! How sweet is His pasture!

And now, farewell! May all of you be blessed as much as I!

James HoganLeave a comment

Ok, I’ve been wanting to do this for a while but just now getting around to it…and what is this mysterious thing? Well, my top five music albums…of all time!! That’s a very lofty statement to make, and really it’s going to probably end up being my top five albums right now. It’s gonna be fun. I know some people who listen to much more music than me…*coughcoughKadycough* have named their top thirty albums, but I seriously don’t know if I can think of that many that I love! Anyways, yes, this format and idea is all stolez from Kady. So props for the sweet idea…and now, how shall I do this?

5. Rhapsody of Fire: Legendary Tales
Favorite Tracks:  Warriors of Ice, Rage of the Winter, Flames of Revenge
Alright, now that is a seriously epic album cover.  Just saying.  I had the hardest time deciding which Rhapsody album to choose, but this one made the cut just because of its all around awesomeness.  A couple of their other albums have some of my fav Rhapsody songs, but listening to this album straight through is just a treat!!  For those of you that haven’t heard Rhapsody(of Fire), they’re a fusion of power metal and orchestral rock and epicness.  Yes, epic in the Tolkien sense of the word…all of their albums are fantasy themed, with heroes and dragons and demons and…well, you get the idea.  This album is one of my favorite music standbys because I can play it and rock out…no matter what mood I’m in.  That’s rare for me…I very much choose my music by my mood.  So hey, give ’em a listen.


4. Coldplay: Viva La Vida
Favorite Tracks: Violet Hill, Life in Technicolor, Cemeteries of London
I have a feeling this is probably going to be the album you all have heard of!  This is a very recent favorite of mine…dating back to when I discovered it listening to someone else’s shared iTunes music in the Christian Study Center!  It helped me dominate writing a paper…and well, I’ve loved it ever since.  Coldplay has such amazing chill music.  So relaxing.  And at the same time…passionate.  Violet Hill is one of my favorite songs of all time and the rest is simply top-notch.  This is an album I can’t really listen to only part of it…I have to go through the whole thing – it’s just that good!!  If you ever need to get some serious homework/paper-writing done…use this album.

3. Nightwish: Dark Passion Play
Favorite Tracks: Poet and the Pendulum, The Islander, Amaranth
It’s going to be hard to explain this album…it’s just amazing.  Nightwish is a sweet power metal band…and I don’t know how else to describe them!  This wasn’t the first album of theirs I heard, but it always touches me the most.  The emotions shown by the songs here is just too real to push away.  One of the first songs of this album I heard was the Islander(on youtube) and it has remained one of my fav Nightwish songs ever.  Just too beautiful.  And even if you don’t like metal, give this album a chance…it’s too gorgeous to ignore!!


2. Muse: Absolution
Favorite Tracks: Apocalypse Please, Butterflies and Hurricanes, Tsp
I didn’t originally think this album would be top five, but as I was listening to it recently, I thought there was NO WAY I could not have this album on my top five.  I originally didn’t know how good this album was until someone(Betsy!) mentioned how it was her favorite Muse album…I promptly went home and listened to it straight through and was blown away.  As I was trying to figure out of my favorite tracks, I started smiling because I realized I wanted to choose all of them.  Seriously, this is good stuff.

And now.

1. Muse: Black Holes and Revelations
Favorite Tracks: Starlight, Supermassive Black Hole, Knights of Cydonia
Was there any doubt?  I actually wasn’t sure how most of the top five would turn out, but this spot was always going to Black Holes.  I still remember the first time I heard it(in Chris’ car on one of our journeys to Tampa/Gainesville!) and I remember being blown away.  For some reason, I didn’t listen to it again for some time…but when I did, I remember it vividly.  Sophmore year, staying up late to finish a project.  I played this album straight through.  Three or four times.  Starlight has been one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE SONGS for a good long time and I really can’t think of any other song that shares the honors.  And listening to this album all the way through is like riding through a an ocean of emotions…sorrowful, powerful, passionate…it has it all.

And there you go.  I know I probably shouldn’t have two Muse albums taking up the top two spots…but I couldn’t help it – they deserved it.  And I feel a little bad I didn’t have any Relient K or Jars of Clay albums up there!  Their problem is that they have great songs, but their albums aren’t meant to flow together…ah well, I still love ’em.

Now, time to get my laundry and then get ready for bed!  Tomorrow’s a work day but the next day is SATURDAY!

Rock and roll, y’all!