Tag: commute

Flowing Gold, Softer Silver

James HoganLeave a comment

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.

That Shining Barrier

James HoganLeave a comment

G’evening, friends! I write to you now as Monday afternoon slowly bleeds into Monday evening…it has been a long day and I am wearied, yet now I am at home and it is time to rest. What a wonderful concept, rest! And I have been meaning to write this entry(or something like) for the past day or so now, but this is the first time I’ve had both the opportunity and the energy to do so. Of course, now that I start writing, my interest begins flagging(or perhaps that is my appetite speaking?). Nevertheless, I shall write.

Firstly, a small digression on commuting. I have a reasonable length commute compared to some(30 minutes in the morning, about 40 in the afternoon), but for Houston that’s not bad at all! But one of the most common complaints I hear from people here in Houston is the abysmal traffic(which is true) and the shockingly long time it takes to travel anywhere(which is also true). For some reason though, I really do not mind my commute that much and I started thinking on it recently…and it really is purely the fact that I quite love listening to my music(with the sporadic sermon!) as I drive. I make (far too many if you ask most people) mix CDs with my most favourite music…and I tend to buy CDs off Amazon now and again too…so I have a plethora of music from which to choose and freshen my rotation as desired. Am I odd? Most certainly – but I find the relaxing – and at times exhilarating – nature of the music I listen to is a boon to my soul. And of course – a gift from God. It’s odd, because I even find myself not wanting to talk to people while I drive anymore, because then I have to pause my music. This is probably a good thing, as distracting myself with my phone on the Houston roads is not entirely wise. Still – I wonder at myself. Why do I prefer music to talking to a dear friend or sister or parent at times? Possibly because my drive home tends to be my decompression time…as I slowly let the stresses of work bleed away as I drive on. The open road and a good tune. Quality combination, yes? Anyways, this digression is utterly silly, I acknowledge. I just wished to do a little self-reflection in a public forum, which is occasionally acceptable. Key word being occasionally.

Now secondly? The bittersweet ache that comes with nearing the end of a beautiful book. I am currently reading a book that is most remarkable in many ways and if I dare to try and name the numerous recommending qualities of it, I risk marring its beauty with my poor words. Maybe later I shall try. But this book…I started reading it approximately a week ago. Last Wednesday I believe? And now, I near its end(literally, all I have left is the epilogue!!) It is very short, less than 250 pages, and I have made my usual mistake of rushing ahead through a book as a bull rushes through the undergrowth of the meadow. But there comes that moment that I have faced many times before – when I am reading a book for the first time and realise that I am nearing its end. As often as I may reread a book, I can only read it for the first time the once. And that feeling…nearing the end…it is as if you were at the symphony, watching Tchaikovsky’s 6th being played to the height of its pathos and knowing you would never again experience such sublime beauty again. That piercing feeling of mingled grief and anticipation. Yet, while reading a great book – its promises are not yet fulfilled until the end is reached. So the end must be reached and so its finish comes. The end may linger, but it will come. Even with this book I am reading, I have been lingering these past few nights, trying not to let myself finish it, trying to stretch out the staggeringly beautiful read. But – do I not want the culmination? Do I not want that final promise fulfilled? Do I not want the boat to surge up the shoreline and touch that white sand? We linger, yes. But the joy will be greater when the book is closed. And now I have severely mixed the themes of this paragraph and I shall cease. To sum up though, I do have actual grief at nearing the end of this book. No more to read. No more to love. But without reading this book, its beauty would not be observed.

Thirdly? Because I did have a third random topic to talk about, but I for the life of me cannot remember what it was. Well, I will make up a new topic then. I recently have been much enjoying my communion with God…and I wish so much that all of you could be as enamored of Christ as I feel I am. Even this morning was remarkable. I usually set my alarm for 4, but almost never get up right away. I struggle and sleep for a while…before finally showering and grabbing a few quick minutes in the Word. Today though – I was wide awake by 3:55…you may think “horror of horrors!” but it was indeed a great gift that God gave me – it meant by the time I had showered and made my lunch and warmed my coffee, I had 38 minutes to read! (yes, I checked – so in awe was I). So 38 minutes to dive into the Word and enjoy a quiet few moments with my God. How shall I complain of the mundane worries and wearisome burdens that I bear…? This morning, I received that special gift of extra time with my God and it was beautiful. So unworthy am I. So loved am I.

Now…with such a shockingly random assortment of reflections…I shall take my leave and make my dinner. (Or rather…heat up my leftover meatloaf and mashed potatoes!!). My heart burns for the love of my Lord. Go under the mercy of God, dear friends.

Symphony

James HoganLeave a comment

So it’s a gorgeous Monday morning…rain pounding on the roof overhead and the sound of thunder fills the air. I thought I’d just post a quick few words before I start work, as I’ve had a pretty sweet morning thus far! Already talked to Dad, Mom and Laura as I drove to work…and was mightily encouraged by them! Then picked up my peppermint mocha at Starbucks(typical, I know) and then continued my drive to work. And as I drove down the highway, I loved seeing the dark storm clouds gather in the sky above as lightning flashed across the horizon…and all this with the gorgeous chords of the Star Trek(Into Darkness) soundtrack playing. That really is some great music, what can I say! Those thrilling and enlivening moments driving to work amidst the storm…a lovely gift to me given by God Himself.

And speaking of music, the following words also came to mind from that classic old song…so let me close with this:

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the world Thy hand hath made,
I see the stars,
I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul!
My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!