Tag: christianity

Through Peril Shall Ye Find Your Salvation

James HoganLeave a comment

Just two more this night!

20. The Gospel According to Jesus by John MacArthur. Well been a while since I read this one! I have a long relationship with this book, having first read it I believe in either late high school or early college. Probably early college. And God mightily used it to work in my life and convict me of sin and show me what it meant to follow Jesus. So for that reason alone, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for this book, ever so grateful how God used it to draw me closer to him. I read it now and it hits a little different, surely. I am in a much different place and recognize it a bit more for the polemical work it is. It is a bit of an intra-camp discussion with MacArthur gently (and sometimes not so gently!) chiding the so called “free grace” movement and the attacks on what became known as “lordship salvation” with these attacks at time accusing MacArthur and his adherents of preaching another gospel, a gospel of works. MacArthur is very much pointed in this book, addressing one theologian in particular in his attacks on lordship salvation. We are a bit removed from this controversy now and even reading this book reminded me of how Christian history (and even evangelicalism) has very much moved on. Not to say that this book isn’t still needed though! Just be aware that this is a book written in a very particular period of American evangelicalism (even more specifically – American evangelical dispensationalism) and addresses a visible church that faced different issues and sins that it faces now.

Looking past all that, I still think this is a useful read for two reasons. Firstly, as a polemical work, it does demonstrate how it is useful and even necessary at times to confront others in the faith who may be leading others astray away from the true gospel. MacArthur is clear at the end that he is not fond of controversy and there are many more minor issues that he will not engage in debates because of the fact that they are issues far afield from the gospel of Jesus Christ. But MacArthur does feel that this “lordship salvation” issue directly bears on what it means to be a Christian and feels called to confront those who are giving ones false assurance of salvation. Secondly, this book is helpful to me even now as I consider my Christian faith and meditate on what the gospel is. What does it mean that Christ came to earth and called men to follow Him? What does it mean that Christ lived and died and rose again and that a message of death and rebirth has been proclaimed to all who would hear? What does it mean that even now Jesus knocks at the door and calls us to come to him that we may have rest for our souls? And what does the gospel lived out look like? What does it mean for one to be “saved”? Can we be saved to eternal life and our lives then proceed in this world as if nothing has really changed? This book was at times challenging but at times comforting as I considered Jesus. At the end of the day, I am counted as a child of God for nothing that I have done. I confess Christ and my life is reborn in dazzlingly glorious colour and nothing will ever be the same. I am saved to life eternal because of the righteousness of Christ. And in that joy and as I abide in Christ, I cannot help but walk this pilgrim way delighting in the law of God and seeking to be holy before my God. Oh the riches of God’s grace! All glory be to Christ.

21. The Man on the Middle Cross by Alistair Begg. A wonderful little gospel tract. This booklet seems to be doing the rounds this Easter season, with at least two churches that I know of using it in the lead-up to Resurrection Sunday. I grabbed one a few weeks back from the table at the back of church and just this morning read it through. It is short and a quick read and to one who has been a Christian for a while, there is nothing new. Still yet. It is wonderfully encouraging to consider the gospel anew and to read these three stories that Begg retells. He does a beautiful job of re-telling the stories of the Samaritan woman, the forgiven paralytic, and the thief on the cross. This is certainly a book aimed at one that does not know Christ, but one that is possibly (hopefully?) seeking to understand who this Jesus is. I wonder how a non-Christian would find this. I can certainly state that it encouraged me to read it this day. The last story brought tears to my eyes, as I considered the thief at the gates of heaven and pleading naught but the words of Jesus. What a joy it would be to hear those words from Jesus, that promise that I might be WITH HIM in paradise that day. Oh my heart melted considering such. I cannot wait for the day when I too walk through heaven’s gates. I don’t care for any golden streets or harps or such. I simply want to be with my Lord.

To Its Rising

James HoganLeave a comment

Hello friends! A week winds to an end. I am tired. But oh I am happy. Soon rest shall be mine and all the reunions and all the smiles and hugs and I cannot wait. But for now, grateful for another week of work and that my God has given me the strength to stay the course and prosper. Now? A walk has been taken and though hot, it was so ever so lovely to walk with my Dani. Now showered and on the couch, think I will read a few words, but firstly…book review time? Maybe?? I am behind, after all. I shall be brief, even if the books are deserving of more words than my feeble pen has ink to give them.

19. The Shadow Things by Jennifer Freitag. A lovely little story chronicling a might-have-been in the Britain of long ago (shortly post-Roman occupation). I did treasure this one and was sad when it came to its all too soon conclusion. It’s a simple tale and some might accuse if of a lack of subtlety but I don’t think subtlety was in the author’s mind! I loved reading the account of a young man who hears the gospel of Jesus Christ and comes to faith in the God who he knows is real, even the God who rules over all the gods. The author is not at all shy about her characters boldly but simply proclaiming the truths of the Christian faith and working out what this reality would mean in a pagan community that knew only the gods of their fathers. This story is winsome and sweet but also there are some truly tragic and brutal moments, blood-soaked tragedy and moments that caused me to raise my hand to my mouth in fear. I wish this story was longer. There are times when the author skips ahead and doesn’t show the full journey and depth of growth of Indi as the tale progresses. And the end is almost too neat. Still though? This story is an example of one I wish there were more of in the world. We see the gospel of God proclaimed and the Holy Spirit working with power to transform the lives of men and women in beautiful splendor amidst the broken lives lived in this broken world. This book does not deny the hardships and tears that are part and parcel with the cross we take up as we follow Jesus. But instead, this book makes it most clear that this life we live now is indeed not the full hope to which we are called. We live in faithful obedience in the day to day, with humility and love pointing towards our Lord as we walk in pilgrimage, waiting for that day when the veil shall be pulled back and we shall behold the real. It shall be glorious.

Yearning

James HoganLeave a comment

A few book thoughts as this evening slowly darkens.

17. Exhalation by Ted Chiang. A collection of short stories that I enjoyed for the most part, yet left me a bit cold in the end. The stories here are mostly sci-fi or futuristic in concept and while I usually appreciated the author’s exploration of some interesting concepts, the writing and characters left something to be desired. Perhaps I just wasn’t in the right mood for some gritty and slightly unsettling looks into our future, I don’t know! This author attempted to extrapolate our current technology into the future and the effects such would have on humanity. The technological advances that we see even today – are they beneficial? Well. It depends. Anyway, these stories weren’t terrible. Also not great.

18. The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene. Wow, what a bracingly powerful piece of fiction. This book is atmospheric and vivid, poignantly human and oh so beautifully written. And yes, it is a bit claustrophobic at times, dark and depressing and not entirely an easy read. Yet I found myself enthralled with the tale Greene spins, the story of a priest on the run, a priest persecuted and cast out and still yet struggling to do the duty that he feels is his. There are layers to this book and I do not feel I’ve fully peeled them back. At first glance, this is a glimpse into an area of Mexico one hundred some years back when anti-Christian forces have risen to power and driven out the church by law and force of arms. I know little of this history and feel shamed that I have not heard of this chapter before.

But this is more than a dry history lesson. This is a story about people, people in all their glory and all their shame. There are some truly lovely passages in this one, especially the night the priest spends in prison. So many sentences from Greene’s pen made me pause in my reading and consider more carefully what I was reading. What is the nature of humanity? What is the nature of God? What does it mean to be a saint? What does it take to be right with God? Greene doesn’t exactly answer all these questions, but this book is not intended to be holy writ. Instead, we are simply asked to look and see and behold the faces of those humans around us who groan as verily as we do and who bear the very image of the divine. Who can save us from our sins? Will one stand in the gap and suffer that we might live? The priest attempts yet falls short in the end as of course he must. Greene doesn’t beautify the priest yet he does allow for a moment of hope, a glimpse of glory even despite the afflictions that surround. There are shades of heaven in this one. Faint, but there nonetheless. I would now meditate on Jesus, the one whose righteousness alone can bring us home to God.

Piano Mornings

James HoganLeave a comment

One more little book review this Friday morn.

13. How To Lead Your Family by Joel Beeke. A wonderful little booklet on how a man should and ought lead his household. This is a book that I really think I should revisit every year or so as an encouragement and reminder of what God has called me to. It was wonderfully refreshing to read such clear and simple exhortation and meditate on my role as a husband (current) and father (not yet). It is a very little book and could easily be read in a sitting, though I stretched it out over several days. The chapters are structured over the familiar prophet/priest/king paradigm and though helpful as a structure, they mainly aid in helping one think of the different aspects in which a man may properly love and lead his family. I realised as I read how very far I am from loving my wife in the way Christ loves his bride, yet too it was encouraging to remind myself and meditate on the way that Christ has loved us and so of course in the same way I am called to love my wife and it’s almost staggering to sit under this awesome responsibility and I feel humbled that I have been called to such a task. The author writes with tenderness and grace, aware that we are not perfect and that we are weak in so many ways. Yet he does not thus excuse us from fulfilling the commands that have been given to men. We are not called to passivity and ease. No, men are called to actively lead and love and take initiative in caring for his family, spiritually above all (though not solely). This book did not say anything that I hadn’t heard before, yet somehow I found my soul blessed as I was reminded anew of what my God has called me to. This shall certainly be a re-read for me.

All Glory Be to Christ

James HoganLeave a comment

Hello friends! A quick Thursday post. Well, at least I think it will be quick! Thought I’d write a few words on books, as is typical more often than not these days. If I have time after that, may try to write some creative words too. We shall see! Peace and love, one and all.

11. The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods. I picked this one up quite some time ago and it’s been sitting on my shelf for ages sadly unread, but finally I picked it off the shelf and gave it a go and…it’s alright? I regret to say that I didn’t really love this one. I’ll blame part of it on me and my preconceived idea that this was going to be a silly fun whimsical tale with lots of books and at least a little magical realism. Well, some of the above is true. There were lots of books and even more fun booklore (and in fun coincidence, Wuthering Heights and its author played a prominent role, making me think I should read it again instead of going to see the movie that just dropped) and yes there was magical realism too! But the whimsy was not quite. Again, maybe this is my fault, but I wasn’t quite expecting there to be so much trauma and sadness in this book and I guess I just wasn’t really in the mood? So this book was fine. Characters a bit flat and the various perspectives felt like they were all from the same person. But that’s probably me being overly critical! Still not a terrible read, but just not one that really worked for me.

12. The Christian Life by Sinclair Ferguson. A beautifully simple and profound work on the basic doctrines of the Christian faith. I much enjoyed reading a chapter or two of this one every day and reminding myself of God’s work in my life and what He has called me to! Much of this book may seem simple to some, but I think it’s most important to spend time continually reminding ourselves of the fundamental truths of the gospel and the realities of our life in Christ. This book walks through the progression of the Christian life, beginning with who we are before we know the Lord, following up with the work of God as he draws and calls us to himself and creates us anew that we would follow Him and walk in newness of life even as we look forward to resurrected glory that awaits us in that eternity that we shall be with our Lord. Oh how good is it to think on such things! I love Ferguson’s frequent Scripture references of course, but also enjoyed his excerpts from other authors and frequent quoting of hymns!! It is good to read a book that points one to the glories of the gospel. I need to read more such.

Sixteen

James HoganLeave a comment

A few thoughts on my latest read – not too many words, I promise!

9. Believer’s Baptism edited by Schreiner & Wright. My studies on baptism continue. I found this book recommended as one of the best recent resources on believer’s baptism (or what some prefer to call “confessor’s baptism”) and it did indeed fit the bill. A very solid and comprehensive work, even if the format – each chapter by a different author – did make for a bit of a disjointed reading experience at times. And there were a few chapters which I felt didn’t add much, specifically the chapter on the Stone-Campbell restorationist movement at the end. But there were a few chapters in this one which were indeed well worth the price of admission, namely the middle chapters. Wellum writes a fantastic chapter looking at reformed theology and exploring how the logic of the covenant of grace carries over into a theology of baptism. Also was much interested in and benefited by the two historical chapters, one looking at the writings of the early church on baptism, the other being an exploration of baptism following the Reformation, leading up to the Anabaptist movement. I find it very helpful to more fully grasp the arguments around baptism when one more properly understands the historical progression, and these chapters were very helpful in that regard. Being one who is particularly interested in comparing the classic Reformed view of baptism vs the Baptist view, I appreciated that Wellum fully explored the logic and underpinnings of Reformed theology and how that necessarily results in a theology of baptism that is a bit different than what may be seen in early church and modern Baptist practice.

I fully admit my biases in that I’ve long believed in what some would call Baptist theology, baptism being a sign and proclamation of a reality that has already taken place. This places me full on one end of the spectrum, very much gazing off into the distance towards the Catholic/Lutheran/Reformed camps as I sit with my Baptist brethren. I came to this book predisposed to believe what it sought to prove but I did also hope that it would be a work that was intellectually honest and forthright in both the view it put forth and the views it argued against. I did not find anything in this book to budge my view down the spectrum and if anything, I found my support for believer’s baptism strengthened. While I don’t believe baptism is a first-order issue (few in the Christian world would), I do believe it’s an important issue and one that is sadly neglected too often these days. When we consider that one of the primary commands of the Lord given to his disciples was to go forth and make disciples and “baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit”, how critical is it that we have a proper understanding of what baptism actually means and entails? I would argue – quite. I also much enjoyed Dever’s chapter at the end laying forth some practical advice and guidance as to how baptism ought be practiced in the modern church, answering some possible questions/dilemmas and being clear as to the function of baptism in our modern day.

I don’t think this book was perfect but I do believe it was a worthwhile read. If anyone would like to discuss this issue with me further, let me know and I’d love to have that chat over a coffee. I have many brothers and sisters who differ with me on this and I love them none the less for that.

All The Trimmings

James HoganLeave a comment

A few book thoughts this cold grey January day.

3. Moon Shadow by Rachel Shinnick. A fine second book in the Moon Thief trilogy! I was much delighted by this one and as I started reading was drawn even more into the saga of Ilis and her friends. The first chapter was suitably dramatic and emotional and while I shall be attempting not to spoil things here, I really enjoyed how it set us up for the rest of the book and established Ilis and her place in Beriyth. I loved the letter conceit that was used throughout – it did a marvelous job of both communicating the emotions of the main characters as well as ratcheting up the tension. What is going on in this world? Why is the moon red? What’s going on with the “Lift”? And can Ilis protect her land from the Aetoneans? These questions are (mostly) answered, though as this is the second book in the trilogy, there is a definite sense of unfinished business and lingering fear as one closes the book. I have to confess, I did not at all anticipate the ending of this one. It shook me. I will have to re-read at some point soon and I am curious as to how knowing the end will affect a re-read. The characters in this one are still a joy and I love some of the new characters introduced – especially Cogs! Him and Kat’s friendship is one of my favourite parts of the book and I was always smiling whenever they were on stage. I’ve been a bit all over the place with this one but that’s partly because I really don’t want to spoil. I much enjoyed this. The author’s writing style in the first book was bracingly fast-paced yet lovely – this book the writing took a step up, feeling even more confident and sure of itself as the author continued to unfold her story. The emotional scenes in this one hit all the harder and the beauty shone through all the more. I’m quite excited to see what she does with book 3 and cannot wait to read!

4. Practical Religion by J.C. Ryle. A wonderfully encouraging book. Every time I read a book by Ryle, I wonder why I haven’t read more of his and am all the more eager to find another to add to my shelf. Yes, Ryle is a 19th-century writer and so at times the style feels a bit old-fashioned to her ears. But yet? Ryle speaks clearly and forcefully of the Christian faith and what it calls us to and he is not ashamed one bit. I love how much Ryle feels the weight of the message of the gospel and how passionately he calls us all to make sure we are in the faith as we meditate on our own place in this life. This book is an easy read in some ways, as each chapter is standalone and can be read as part of your daily meditation or devotion. Some of the chapters are a bit longer and will require an extended period (perhaps an hour), yet each chapter is well worth it. I need to read more books like this, books that encourage me in what I believe and remind me of what I know and yet give me further fuel and fire to delight in my Lord and to seek ever more to follow him all of my days. As I read this, I was reminded of the simple and practical parts of our daily life that we should and ought give to our Lord and how silly is it that we so often segregate our life between the secular and the spiritual whereas we should actually consider the whole entirety of our life in the light of the spiritual and seek that we might be properly taking steps that would align us more with what our God has called us to. I realise I haven’t really talked about the main meat of this book – so what is this book really about? As I mentioned, each chapter is standalone, so each chapter is different and it is difficult for me to say there is one major theme. There are chapters on bible reading, prayer, zeal, love, the Lord’s table, sickness, riches and poverty, our final home, the fundamental differences between the Christian and non-Christian and so many other topics. It is helpful to think about these things and Ryle writes so clearly and plainly that it is easy to understand, even with the slightly outdated language at times. Truly this is a pastoral book, and one that I would encourage to all. Yes, he wrote this in a different time, where the majority of people were at least nominally Christian and so some of his lines seem a bit odd now as he’s clearly writing to people who have at least a familiarity with church and Christianity. Still I think this book would benefit anyone who would read it now, even as it would clarify what it means for one to be a Christian and be a follower of Jesus. Reading books that encourage me in following Christ and to be more intentional in my daily walk? Yes please. I need more books like this in my life.

5. Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen. A superb polemical work, even if at times feeling a bit dated by the time in which it was written. If anything though, this serves both as a proper aid to understanding true historic Christianity as well as a historical primer of the state of the church in the early 20th century. This book really is a fascinating look at the state of the established church (with an American focus) now about a hundred years back and Machen’s book is a bracingly clear and concise defense of what were considered the orthodox beliefs of Christianity. Machen is addressing those “liberals” in his time who began to believe and say and preach (even if veiled at times) that perhaps some of the historic truths of Christianity weren’t quite as important as they were of old made out to be and that perhaps they weren’t even true at all. The quest for the historical Jesus had already began and the critical method had begun to be used as a tool for questioning the old ways of understanding both the Bible and Christianity. Machen in this book attempts to challenge the new paradigm and he takes great offense at the cunning of the modern scholars and theologians who attempt to reframe and ever so gently reshape the Christianity of old to make it more palatable to the modern enlightened mind. Machen holds fast to the old-time religion and in this slim volume (really a quick read – knocked it out in less than a week to Dani’s chagrin!) he spends time talking about some of the fundamentals of the Christian faith and comparing the Christian view to the liberal one. These fundamentals include thoughts on “doctrine”, “the Bible”, “God and Man”, “Christ”, “Salvation” and “the Church”. I think I just named the chapters in this book, for the most part. Machen with skill and grace attacks the liberal position and attempts to set forth the Christian position as the one which aligns with both historic and metaphysical reality. He at times can be a bit abrasive yet I do get the sense that Machen is deeply wounded and shaken by the subtle attacks of those who toss forth that classic question – “hath God said?” and in soft words and softer intimations indicate that of course their position is the only reasonable one in the here and now. Are we not in the modern age, after all? Machen is fighting for the faith and I admire his zeal and love for the Lord as he clearly defines the core ethos of Christianity.

I have a few times mentioned the word “fundamental” and while Machen is often seen as a precursor to the “Fundamentalism” movement of the 20th century, I’m not sure he would himself align with such. Yes he clearly believes in the reality of a spiritual world and the possibility and actuality of the miraculous and supernatural work of God (In ways his thoughts on such reminded me of Lewis’ book ‘Miracles’, which I really must re-read soon!). Yes he clearly believes in the authority of the Word of God and the efficacy of such in working in the hearts and minds of men and women through the power of the Holy Spirit. Yet he also is one who very much values the thoughts and minds of the scholars and theologians of old and does not so eagerly dismiss the written works of the past few thousand years, understanding how much God has worked in his church throughout the past few millennia in increasing our understanding of who God is and how God is working on this earth. Yet Machen also doesn’t hold as blindly as some to earthly institutions and manmade hierarchies. He calls for a simple Christianity and a simple faith, a belief in the God who is real and who in reality stepped on this earth and died on an actual cross of wood so that all those who simply believed on Him would have life eternal, both now and in the age to come. This is both simple and profound and should shake all who think truly upon these words. I was much benefitted by reading this book and while it might be a bit heady for some, I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to think a bit more about the core tenets of the Christian faith and how they compare to some of the modern thoughts and beliefs we even now have about what it means to be a Christian. There are different battles we fight now to be sure. But even now, there are those who call themselves Christians who preach another gospel. Is it not helpful for us to consider even now what the true gospel of Christianity is? What message shall be proclaimed?

Friend

James HoganLeave a comment

A Monday morning says hello and soon oh too soon must I begin to work, this I know. But can I not spend a bare few minutes typing up a little soliloquy? Whether or not I’m granted permission, I proceed. It is a cold morning and though I wish I could enjoy it with a nice long walk, there is no time alas. Perhaps later! For the now, I simply sit and meditate on what I’ve read this morning. From beautiful words of comfort and joy found in the Bible to words of strong exhortation and sweet encouragement from JC Ryle, I’m grateful for the time I have to ponder heavenly things as I think on the inheritance that is mine through the glorious work of Jesus Christ. Soon enough the hustle and bustle of the daily stresses will commence and I shall deal with those in their proper order. But no matter what comes, I walk forward in calm confidence that all I do is through the grace and power granted me by God himself. I rejoice knowing that I am called a child of God and have no fear of what may come this day. Though I was once a sinner vile and blind of eye and perverse of heart, I now have been made anew, am regenerated true and born again that I might sing glory glory to my God! Jesus is my friend. What a thought! I sit here and let that wash over me and think on it again. Jesus is my friend.

And though now I act in faith and bemoan the fact that I cannot take his hand and feel the scars and touch the side that bore the spear for me, I do look upward now knowing that he is there at the right hand of God ever mediating for me his friend. Yet he is there yet also here in union with me in divine mystery that I don’t fully understand. But this union is something beautiful, a vine that I am part of. Yes, I abide in Christ. I close my eyes for a second and think again that I am a child of God. The Spirit prods me closer down the path and reminds me that this world is not my home. I have another and even now my friend Jesus makes it ready for me. Soon I come. Not yet. But soon. I long for that far country where I shall sit at the feet of Jesus and share a meal with him. Now I think on the meal I take in memory, that wine and bread which reminds me of that work which Jesus did for me. His body, broken for me. His blood, given for me. I am washed and clean and wear robes of white because the Lamb of God gave his life for me. And this is not a mere transactional note in the divine ledgers. No, Jesus looks to me in love and stretches out his hand and says come. Come to me and you shall find your rest. Yes, my Lord, I come. I rest in you. I delight to say – Jesus, my dear friend and brother, I rest in you! My Lord and my God, I rest in you.

Signed and Sealed

James HoganLeave a comment

in the fog he strides and sings
glory glory to my king!
he lifts his head and smells the smoke
whispering to himself of what he knows
promises that were long ago written
words of life that for him were given
and though too oft he tends to stutter
and wastes his thoughts on another
there are times like now when he stands tall
and remembers seeing the rainbow at the falls
so please forgive him for not always being plain of speech
for it brings him perhaps perverse delight to weave poetry
that subtly whispers truth that aches with love
and gently hints at the truths of him who sits above
but now he laughs and cries as he remembers his story
his heart burns within him as he ponders that farther glory
and he knows that though he was lost and broken true
and that he had no idea what if anything he could do
there was one who reached out his hand
and pleaded him to come into the farther land
all he had to do was fall and kneel and pray
and in desperate humble brokenness ask and say
Lord I bring nothing I am but ash and rust
save me save me oh save me or I am lost!
and so he looks to the cross and says i believe
help me God to come now to thee
for on my own i would surely be done
but now i rest my faith in you God’s own Son!
and that is all and that is enough he cries
for he knows that for his soul the Son did die!
so now he’s washed and now he’s clean
and now he stands forever among the redeemed
he rises up through the waters of the brook
and to the far shore he now dares to look
the pilgrim way continues on and ever on
but now he walks with the light of God
and though his writings still sometimes stumble
and though his poetry tends to kind of mumble
he leaves this here for a witness
to the God whom he confesses
Father, Son and Spirit Holy
eternity now whispers
and I follow

Flexing

James HoganLeave a comment

Hello friends! A quick post this lovely Saturday evening which may or may not lead to more writing down the line, who can say? Certainly not I. As is usual, I’ll start out by noting the absolute gorgeousness of this day. It’s about 50 degrees outside, a chill that delights my heart and warms my soul. The sky is of a cornflower blue, it’s face friendly and well-washed by the recent rain. And feathery clouds rest atop the horizon heralding the sunset that is soon to come. I could have stayed at home and written there of course and I almost did. But I walked down the street to the coffeeshop here mostly because I craved the walk and all its attendant delights. Now I sit here at a small wooden table at Antidote, resting my back against the block wall and subtly listening in on some of the conversations around. Right now to my left sit a couple from England talking to a couple from the Netherlands and I’m enjoying their random chat. But let’s see if I can shut that off and focus on writing, shall I? The electronic beat of the music – warehouse techno in styling – sounds firm in my ears and drives me ever forward. I must write. I shall write. My fingers have been inactive too long. But what? Shall I write of that which I love? Shall I write of those dreams that linger afore my waking eyes and softly draws me closer with the soft scent of rose perfume? Or shall I instead crack open my heart a bit and let it pour forth that molten gold that has been in the forging processing these many months? I know not, I know not. Too often I allow myself these stream-of-consciousness sessions and at times it is beautiful but at times I slightly worry about what may issue forth. But then I remember to whom I belong and who even now is at work pruning me and making me fit for the far country for which I long. And I smile and worry no more. I am a child of God, am I not? What love is mine. So let’s write and let’s love and let’s wonder. I’ll let others worry, I simply rest on the promises that are mine. Peace and love, dear friends.