Tag: christianity

Ashes

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And another Tuesday rears its head.  I have a few minutes in which to write, so write I shall!  This morning a tragedy befell me.  After a long and happy life, my cafetiere(or french press, if you want to use the coarse wording…) finally died the final death.  The crack that has been worrying it for some time finally finished propogating all the way around the glass and so when I began to try and pour my coffee into the mug…let’s just say quite a bit of coffee went in a direction other than the mug as well.  But this cafetiere has had a long and full life since I bought it in…2011 I think?  I still remember being shamed by Pastor Dominic back then when he found out I drank instant coffee!!  A rough paraphrase of his words, “James – my estimation of you has somewhat lowered hearing that.”  Thereupon I immediately went to John Lewis and bought this gorgeous little cafetiere and indeed it has served me well.  Now…I’ve written far too many words memorializing this coffee-making device and so I shall end with the happy news that because I am silly, I actually bought a back-up cafetiere from JL when I was in Aberdeen back a year and a half ago now.  So…now I’m excited to put that one into service!  May it last seven years as well.

And I suppose I should also log my latest read, which again – should not surprise you if you’ve been following my chronicles:

9.  The Life and Diary of David Brainerd edited by Jonathan Edwards.  Yesterday as the weather was still somewhat nice( Houston is heating up drastically though and I am sad!), I walked down to EQ and finished up this book on the porch, basking in the sunlight and the gentle breeze.  But better than those external factors…finishing up this book chronicling the life of a man who loved God and longed for His glory.  Oh how I wish I could make every one of you read this, but truly – what a wonderfully convicting and heartening work.  I looked it up on amazon just now and the version I read is only $13.58 and it is worth every cent.  So…buy it please.  And read.  I don’t remember this book affecting me quite as much the last time I read this, but I suppose I am in a different place now(emotionally, spiritually, geographically, whatev – ) and thus I should not be surprised at the change.  But I can now say with confidence this is surely in the top three of my all-time favourite biographical/autobiographical works.  I am a history nerd, I know…so partly the reason I love it so is the window into 18th century American Christianity, of course.  And I am a theological nerd(surprised?) and so reading the doctrinal thoughts and convictions of Brainerd(along with the notes by J. Edwards!  Brainerd actually died in the home of Edwards, so Edwards has quite a few first-hand comments regarding Brainerd and his circumstances) is supremely fascinating.  But…the reason I love this book the most is because it is a glimpse into the mind and heart of a man who loved God passionately and desparately.  And this book is the story of a man who poured himself out to the utmost, even to death.  All for the glory of God.  And so my heart cries for similar passion and love.  May I live such.  I am nowhere close.  But may I strive and may I cry.  If only I could live in such a humble, broken manner.  All for the love of my God.  

Éponine

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Read some of my favourite verses this morning…

For we know in part and we prophesy in part;
but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
When I was a child, I used to
think like a child, reason like a child;
when I became a man, I did away with childish things.

For now we see in a mirror dimly,
but then face to face;
now I know in part,
but then I will know fully
just as I also have been fully known.
-1 Corinthians 13:9-12

I would like to dwell on the following phrases this day.  Firstly, “…but when the perfect comes…”  What a sublime few words, what a gorgeous sigh of hope.  Someday.  Secondly…”…for now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face…”  Oh so true is it that our eyes can scarcely pierce the hollow lies of this dark and weary world.  There is a Truth about this world and though sometimes we glimpse it and though sometimes we may reach for it, our reaching is fumbling with our eyes half-closed.  There is a light glorious though and that light beckons true.  Someday our knowledge of the Truth will not be as though seen through shifting waters.  No, someday our knowledge of the Truth will be complete and full and perfect because we shall see that Truth face to face.  To bow at the feet of my Lord Jesus Christ.  Someday.  And “…just as I also have been fully known.”  Now our knowledge is partial and wavering and oh so frail at times.  Yet now – even now – we are completely and utterly known.  Our souls are not lost in the void and despite the devils’ siren call to blissful nothingness, we can with confidence state that we are loved by the One who knows our name.  Is it better to be self-determinedly lost and not yet found?  I say no, I say never.  Never again.  We have a higher hope, a sweeter faith, a most perfect love.  After all, we are fully known.

Liability

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So about to start this Wednesday(thankfully have a nice hot cup of coffee in front of me to aid and assist in this endeavour!)…just thought I’d share a few brief thoughts.

Firstly, was listening to my newest mix Tears of Nienna – which at some point, yes, I will post tracklist for – and as the CD wound down, I heard Taylor Swift’s “New Year’s Day”…a song laced with gorgeous piano, but apart from that, one line struck me: “Hold onto your memories, they will hold onto you.”  Apart from Taylor’s intended meaning for this, the line struck me because indeed, memories have such a strong hold on us at times.  The Lord knows I can surely fall into the nostalgia trap…I do so love thinking about dear memories and pondering the treasured past at times.  Do I do this too much?  Sometimes, yes.  It’s not a bad thing to think or recall the good things in your past – or indeed – remembering the deeds of the Lord in your life up to this point!  But – of course there was a but coming – we should be striving to live in the moment and press on to the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  We don’t want our memories to hold onto us.  All things in this life should be held loosely, even our memories of times most sweet.  Only one thing should we cling to – our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Secondly, this morning I read about Peter coming to preach to Cornelius and his household of heathens(i.e., Gentiles).  What a marvelous, momentous occasion was this.  For so long it was thought that salvation and the grace of God was limited to the Jews…now…God decreed and made manifestly known that the gift of eternal life was for all.  Peter was commanded to preach the gospel to these non-Jews(horror!) and he obeyed.  And God poured out His Holy Spirit upon them even as they heard the gospel of God.  The impact of this event can not be overstated.  Salvation and eternal blessings and ceaseless glory belong to all who believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  There is no barrier based on nation, race or creed.  How amazing is the love of God.  Amen?  Amen.

Flowing Gold, Softer Silver

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A few minutes to write this morning.  …as I drove in to work this morning, noted the overwhelming full golden moon in the west.  Slowly did it sink towards the horizon.  But I could not help but be staggered by the beauty of the golden moon contrasted with the dark early morning sky and the garish city lights…the gleaming yellow loveliness of the moon overshadowed all else.  All praises to the One who made it so.

And…I suppose I have at least a couple minutes to write on my readings this morning?  Oddly enough(or not?!), my readings – as disparate as they were – had a common theme running throughout.  The love of money is a dangerous thing…for truly wealth is not all and it will flow away, as fickle and fragile as a moonbeam in your hand.  So why do we put our trust in money?  We have hope in something that is so much better, do we not?

A few words from the exceedingly chilling prophecies of Ezekiel(sadly I have not the time to write all the words…but you can read for yourselves Chapters 6 & 7 to get full context):

“Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations
to which they will be carried captive,
how I have been hurt by their adulterous hearts which turned away from Me,
and by their eyes which played the harlot after their idols;
and they will loathe themselves in their own sight for the evils which
they have committed, for all their abominations.
Then they will know that I am the Lord;
I have not said in vain that I would inflict this disaster upon them…

All hands will hang limp and all knees will become like water.
They will gird themselves with sackcloth and shuddering will overwhelm them;
and shame will be on all faces and baldness on all their heads.
They will fling their silver into the streets and their gold will not be able
to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord.
They cannot satisfy their appetite nor can they fill their stomachs,
for their iniquity has become an occasion of stumbling…

Make the chain, for the land is full of bloody crimes and the city is full of violence.
Therefore, I will bring the worst of the nations, and they will possess their houses.
I will also make the pride of the strong ones cease, and their holy places will be profaned.
When anguish comes, they will seek peace, but there will be none.
Disaster will come upon disaster and rumor will be added to rumor;
then they will seek a vision from a prophet, but the law will be lost
from the priest and counsel from the elders.
The king will mourn, the prince will be clothed in horror,
and the hands of the people of the land will tremble.
According to their conduct I will deal with them,
and by their judgements I will judge them.
And they will know that I am the Lord.”

Sorry for the over-quoting.  But truly, what serious words are those.  Can your wealth save?  Can your luxuries satisfy?  Surely no.  And what devastating words are these: “According to their conduct I will deal with them and by their judgements I will judge them.”  That is what we all deserve, to be judged according to the full measure of our deeds.  Oh what bleakness is that.

Secondly…I also read in Acts 3…the account of Peter and John healing the lame man.  One line quite struck me:

“But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, ‘Look at us!’
And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
But Peter said, ‘I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you:
in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene – walk!'”

And just imagine that scene.  Put yourselve in the lame man’s place…as he first anticipated that these kind gentlemen were about to give him money…and then in that split second after they said “I do not possess silver and gold,” imagine his disappointment.  His face falls, his hope fails.  That split second of disillusionment and pain.  But then.  Peter continues speaking and utters that most beautiful name – Jesus Christ.  And as He heals the man through the power of God and changes this man’s life forever, what joy crosses that man’s face.  He has received physical healing, yes.  But of far more importance – eternity awaits! – he hears the name of Jesus and witnesses the power of God. 

Do we understand this?  We put so much faith and hope in earthly things – status, wealth, power.  We think – surely if I had enough money, all would be well.  Surely.  But these things never satisfy.  And so as the people of Jerusalem found out, all their wealth was as nothing in the face of their iniquities and the judgment of God.  So too is all our money worthless for wiping away the stench and filth of our sins.  Only One can take away our sins and cleanse us from unrighteousness and that is Jesus Christ, very God Himself.  So today, let us set aside our worries for the physical things of this world and instead set our eyes on Jesus, the true Author and Perfecter of our faith.  All else may fail us.  All else will fail us.  But our God never shall leave us nor forsake us – He will truly be with us and watch over us and care for us, all the days of our life.  The nearness of God is our good, for He has forgiven us all our sins.  Let us remember, let us rejoice and let us ceaseless love.

Shooting Star

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A sleepy morning. Yet I must confess I had a most enjoyable reading time(with my eggs and coffee)…reading a couple of my favorite chapters – Luke 21 & 22. I don’t have time to fully explicate these chapters and describe my thoughts…but this morning as I read, I was just encouraged by the words and actions of Jesus. From Him telling Peter, “Simon, Simon – Satan has demanded permission to sift you as wheat. Yet I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. When you have returned, strengthen your brothers.” We could spend hours just discussing that alone!! Oh how I love the fact that although Jesus doesn’t deny Satan permission to test Peter….he does say He prayed for Peter – he prayed for his faith. Oh how I long that Jesus would pray thus for me. And later on…as Jesus is fervently praying and tired and emotionally worn out…he is strengthened by an angel from heaven. Then he comes back and sees the disciples and what are they doing? Sleeping of course. He tells them “Pray that you might not fall into temptation.” Oh might I heed these words – what is better, to be self-satisfied and confident in my own abilities, to be awake yet sleeping? Or to desparately pray for that aid which we know we need, that we not stumble and fall. And later on in the chapter of course…Peter denies Christ, as Jesus knew he would. And at that moment of Peter’s third denial, we read that “Jesus turned and looked at Peter”. What was in Jesus’ eyes? What was that look? I imagine it as sorrow and love mingled…yet I cannot say. But Peter responded as is only proper. He fled and wept bitterly. To deny our Lord and Christ – how can we do this? Yet we do it every day. Pray to the Father for relief from temptation. Cry out to the Lord in prayer, day and night. And remember…Jesus is even now(as per Luke 22!) at the right hand of God in glory and He never ceases to plead your case. Forgiven am I. Eternity with my God awaits. Ne’er should I doubt my future when such joy is assured.

Signed and Sealed

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Happy Wednesday friends!!  A brief few words…reading in Jeremiah a bit today and was both encouraged and convicted by the words I read therein.  Jeremiah is in jail.  And the city of Jerusalem is literally under siege by the Chaldeans – with the fall of the city less than 2 years away.  Bad circumstances, right?  Jeremiah gets a word from the Lord however – telling him to purchase a piece of property as a sign that someday there will be a restoration.  And so Jeremiah obeys.  But after his obedience, he cries out to the Lord in prayer.  And oh might we all pray as he does here – he names the attributes of God – namely, his omnipotence, omniscience, mercy and justice – and he exults in the name of the Lord.  But even as he lifts up the name of the Lord, he also confesses and agrees as to the sins of the people and states that the city is surrounded and about to fall.  Without questioning God as such, Jeremiah lists the works of the Lord – His judgment and promised redemption.  And there is a hint of a question at the end, when Jeremiah mentions the fact that he bought a piece of property…even though the city is about to fall.  But Jeremiah’s faith is indeed strong.  And God replies(at length!  but I shall reproduce only a line): “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?”

Truly let us remember that this day.  When all seems wrong and all is lost and we think surely nothing good is even possible…think on these words.  Jeremiah is imprisoned in a city that is about to fall to a ruthless enemy.  We are not normally in situations as dire as this, and so we have even less reason to doubt the goodness of God.  Yet, we do doubt, I know.  I know because I doubt.  And at those times, cry out to the Lord in prayer.  Think on the grand and beautiful attributes of God.  Remember that God is a God of exceeding lovingkindness and mercy.  Think on the great works of the Lord that He has done in your life.  And at the end, rest.  Rest in the promises of God – He shall surely never leave or forsake you, as long as you shall live.  Remember the promises of Christ – His yoke is indeed easy and His burden is light.  Go to Him, and you shall have rest for your souls.

First Date

James HoganLeave a comment

As of when I hit this post button, I will have posted every single day of this year thus far. Granted, that is only three days. Still – let me bask in this moment, at least for a bit.

Today is Serious Topic Tuesday, a day which may or may not be repeated depending on my mood and work schedule this coming year. But today at least, I have a Topic and so I shall Discuss. What is this topic? Why – it is of days and stars and sundry things. In more mundane terms – astrology.

The soothsayers out there may rejoice in this study of the celestial bodies and their alleged influence on our lives. I do not rejoice at this topic – indeed, it’s been a reason for scoffing oft in my past. But today as I perused one of my online havens, I noted an article about this subject and I wondered why so many people seem to put such stock in something that seems to be founded on such sinking sands. I do not understand. And like most of us, I don’t like not understanding something. I eventually clicked on the article and sighed to myself as I began to read. This article was written in a quite positive manner (I suppose I should cite my source – so it is The Ringer, article link here: Teen Astrologists of Tumblr) and I quickly began to understand the fascination attraction astrology has for so many.

What is its attraction?  Well, remember what I said above?  We don’t like not understanding a thing.  This is true.  We – I speak as the human collective – do not like things without meaning, things that do not make sense.  When we see the wars raging in this world, our soul crys out: why?  When we see the hurricanes and blizzards tear down our homes, our soul crys out: why?  And when our relationship fails or our emotions spiral into the abyss of self-reflective loathing, our soul crys out: why?  Again – we like to make sense of things.  The grand affairs of this world may be beyond the scope of most of us.  But our individual lives, surely we can put those in order.  Ok maybe not that.  But surely we can at least understand why we are the way we are and why things happen to us the way they do.  Right?  Maybe then we can determine which decisions we should make to maximize our happiness and minimize our failures.  And thus is the lure of the study of the stars.  It tells us why.  It tells a story of ourselves which explains things that we cannot explain on our own.  And like all great stories that we love telling, it puts us at the center.

Now – I did not think I would be able to adequately explain this…then I go to to the final two paragraphs of the article.  These lines say it all, far better than I could.  Excerpted below:

“I was comforted by her response. I’d spent a significant amount of time and effort reporting out this story. And Ives’s breezy logic made me feel at ease. This generation rules the internet! I thought. Case closed! It was only then I understood the awe of her teen fan base. Her relaxed, poetic analysis of whatever complicated life puzzle was thrown her way was therapeutic to witness. It made sense that a young, emotionally ripe teen would find solace in her words.

“It’s stories about you that I’m writing,” Ives ventured, explaining her appeal. “You’re the one who’s divine. You’re the one that’s a god or a goddess. You’re the one that should be worshipped. You’re the one who has all the answers and has all this potential. You don’t need anyone else to bring that out of you; it’s all you. Astrology is just a reflection of that potential. The ultimate truth will be inside you.” Or, in the case of her band of teen followers, somewhere deep down a Tumblr rabbit hole.”

And there you go.  This author – props to her by the way on a well written article – said it beautifully.  We like things to make sense.  We like to think we are as gods.  Re-read the above paragraphs and the stark attraction of astrology is immediately evident.  The mechanics and foundation of this alleged science are unimportant.  What is important is the results – namely, self-discovery, self-realization and self-actualization.  Once you have ascended to the throne and sat down, all else is unimportant.

But does reality beg to differ?  Why yes, it does.  And this is what I find so fascinating.  Is astrology real?  Is it not?  Does it matter?  These are all questions that can be pondered, but at the end of the day, one must wonder – what is real?  Because if certain things are real, we should shudder at the implications.  This is where I get on my soapbox – pardon, but it’s *my* soapbox – and declare that truth does indeed matter.  All our self-constructed idealogies crumble and fall before the reality of the universe and He who made it.  If there truly is a god – and this god is far more real than a star-crossed fantasy – then there are realities that need to be considered.  Who is this god?  What impact does this god have on my life?  Does the story of this god answer all my deepest questions and quell all my deepest fears?  If this story is truly worth telling because it is Real, then I must consider carefully what I believe.  What we believe does have consequences.  What we believe shapes who we are and what decisions we make.  And if there is a god who demands our worship, then we must answer.  There is only one throne.  Who is on that throne?  Is it I?  Or is it God?

Consider carefully what is truth before you ascend to that throne.  Consider carefully, my friend.

Road Goes Ever On

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I really have not written enough lately. Apologies.

But today at least…even though I don’t plan on writing much, I can say – Happy New Year!! This year of 2018 is now beginning – may it be ever blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ – amen? Amen.

Today has been a glorious day to begin this new year – a day of rest and joy and fellowship with friends so dear! Since last night I got back from Calgary in the evening, didn’t feel like going to any parties and so I stayed home, hung out with John and Camille and was in bed before 11. Slept straight through to sometime after 6 this morning – ringing in the new year is overrated, says I. This morning went and got breakfast with Earnie and Julian…over three hours at Starbucks/Buffalo Grille and what topic didn’t we cover? I shan’t describe our conversations…but I am truly blessed with such friends as them. Heartily encouraged. Following that, went and did a shop at HEB, then home for laundry, etc!

This afternoon has been amazing – I started by putting together my roast beef dinner. A nice eye of round roast with potatoes and onions and carrots – now in the oven “resting”. I will be able to eat it sometime this evening. Eventually. Apartment smells simply wonderful just now. And these past few hours, been relaxing on the couch with my coffee and reading and Rachmaninoff. Also been texting a bit with friends – guess I shouldn’t omit that! Reading D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones “Authority” – read the chapter on the authority of Jesus Christ right now and while I probably should excerpt some so you can get the beauty of his words, I’ll just encourage you to read it on your own. Understanding that there is nothing on this earth that is more important for us to understand than that our salvation comes through Jesus Christ alone. What shall we preach but Christ crucified? There is nothing that shall answer that aching longing in our souls except to be filled up to the utmost by the glory of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen and Amen.

And…on that note, back to coffee and reading…

Golden Age

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Lovely weekend and not enough time to fully describe it as I enjoy my mocha americano this beautiful morning as the fresh light begins to seep in the windows but I shall at least mention the wonderful capstone of last night in which myself and Emily and Erica went and watched a showing of Casablanca at cinema and oh it was so wonderful seeing one of my all time favourite movies on the big screen with loads of other people and just being able to enjoy it as we laughed at the funny parts(mostly all of Claude Rains’ lines!) and enjoyed the deeply romantic and movingly patriotic themes woven throughout(and something I realised just now as I looked up the cast is how many of the actors are non-Americans which surely contributed to its emotion for so many of them were refugees from war-torn Europe and were from countries such as Russia and France and Austria-Hungary and Germany and some of them were Jewish and even had family members in concentration camps and so the emotion you see in this film in certain scenes is far from faked) and as I write this I realise it is only one sentence so far so I am determined to keep it that way and also have decided to finish sentence sans commas and it will be magnificent(my apologies) but I suppose I must confess the best part of the night was the conversation I had with Emily and Erica after the movie in the parking lot in which we discussed many things but all of them honestly and deeply and my heart was much encouraged by them and now I suppose I really shall close this sentence as it is far too long(but I think rather successful in its lack of commas) but wanted to share a few words that have been haunting my thoughts these past few weeks and been keeping me stuck in the same chapter for quite a while now and this not at all a bad thing and so as I sat on my couch this morning with blanket wrapped around me and read these words yet again just know how my soul was warmed and enlightened by the truth and by my regenerated heart understanding that these words are Real in the sense that little else is:

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the
Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit
of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though
the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of
righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead
dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give
life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
-Romans 8:9-11(oh what beautiful words – we are indwelt by the very Spirit of God)

Boysenberries

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Hello friends – a relaxing Friday afternoon here! I suppose I should do my workout fairly soon(and I will) but thought I’d write first. Finishing up a perfectly lovely three day vacation(because I had extra vacation days to take. Why not, right?) and I thought I’d just thank God for granting me rest. I probably have spent too much of this time at Starbucks and drinking coffee…but hey, it’s vacation right? Doesn’t that mean I get to do what I want?? And I maybe possibly slightly had an ulterior motive as well – this morning asked out barista Katie(who is a pretty cool girl, I must say!). Alas she said no(due to another random boy she’s talking to in NC who I knew nothing about!) Tragic!! Nonetheless, while I usually don’t share this type of thing online(at least not this bluntly, without the facade of sweeping poetry or purple prose) – I thought I’d put this out there just to share something utterly real and my subsequent comfort in meditating on how good God is. We walk in faith and while we don’t always get what we think we want, God is with us every step of the way. Always. And His comfort is abounding. And it’s encouraging because while Katie didn’t give me the answer I “wanted”, we had a wonderful conversation, full of honesty and kindness, and we are committed to remaining friends. And so I can honestly say I’m in a good mood(which is not always the case in this sort of scenario!) and extremely grateful to God for His mercies. To me! And even this afternoon, God has blessed me. As I ate lunch, I got quite a few laughs out of watching “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?” with Hepburn, Tracy, et. al. As John Wade Prentice and Joanna Drayton make an unusual relationship work(14 year age gap!), I suppose I have no idea what God has in store for me and…that’s a good thing! Even if I’m not quite as handsome as Sidney Poitier. Alas.

Now from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To God be the glory forever. Amen.