Tag: journal

Sanguine Eyes

James HoganLeave a comment

Hi friends, happy Thursday! Just jotting down a few words here before I start work…it’s a nice cold morning and set to get a lot colder!! According to our wise weather prognosticators, temperature is going to drop steadily throughout the day, possibly even to freezing point! I came fully prepared today, wearing my turtleneck and sweater – so excited! Sad how happy cold weather will make me, but there you go! Also, last night was simply beautiful. Sarah Hadley just started working at this coffee shop nearby(2nd Cup) and once I realised I could walk there in about 20 minutes…I got up and did just that! Had a great post-dinner walk through the crisp almost-wintry air enjoying walking through my neighborhood…then a nice cup of cocoa at coffee shop! Got to chat with Sarah for a bit before deciding not to distract her anymore. And so my evening was finished off by sitting and drinking my cocoa and reading Faith and Life by Warfield…meditating on the wonders that is the incomprehensible fullness of the love of Christ…for us. And that, my friends, is a good night.

Peace and love.

Love Unending

James HoganLeave a comment

Afternoon, all!! It’s a gorgeous Saturday here in Houston and thought I’d just write here briefly! And by gorgeous, I mean that it’s a wet, chilly grey day…and I simply love it. This day has so far been one of rest and chats with dear friends and enjoying bountiful blessings from my Father God. I started out the day by…waking up far later than is my norm! Since it was a mostly rainy night, decided I’d skip my run this morning and enjoy a little more sleep instead. Very good decision, I have to say. After finally waking up and having my coffee and chocolate cream-of-wheat for breakfast and reading for a bit…I got to skype with Noemi!! We hadn’t talked properly in simply ages…and oh how wonderful of a chat it was!! She is such a dear friend and encourages me mightily. So thankful am I for the technology that grants me and Noemi the ability to talk even though we are thousands of miles away, me in America and she in Hungary!! I shall not describe our talk in detail. But know how lovely it is to talk about life and love and the things of the Lord with dear friends. And so it was. Following that lovely talk, it was time to go meet Julie for lunch! She wanted to eat at Velvet Taco, and I discovered it was in walking distance. So I made my way there, through the small neighborhoods, splashing through puddles as I went. Oh what a beautiful day! Grey and chill and fresh and wonderful!! So fun to be able to walk somewhere and not have to drive! And so after a much enjoyed walk, met Julie at Velvet Taco and enjoyed some delicious tacos(one of them was like a Cuban sandwich…but in taco form. I have found my ideal Tampa/Houston fusion food. It was sublime)…but more than food, a proper catch-up chat with Julie! We realised we hadn’t had a decent talk in a while, somehow – and it was truly great to talk about…life and love and the things of the Lord! Hmmm…is there a theme here? Possibly. Anyways, once again – I shall not detail our talk. But after our yummy lunch, she dropped me off at my place and we chatted a bit more before she went her way…I’ve been getting other random things done(like going to Trader Joe’s for some necessities and listening to my awesome HymnSing CD as I drove!). Now it is dinner time I think. Yes, an early dinner. Yes, I am hungry again. And wow, this is a messy long paragraph and I probably should tidy it up. I shan’t. Going to make my dinner of mac’n’cheese and chicken and tomato salad. And I shall continue to think of the Lord my God and how much He has blessed me. Oh how I long to know Christ more. My highest desire, my truest song, my greatest love. Peace, my friends. Peace and love.

Mountains

James HoganLeave a comment

Good morning, friends – and happy Friday!!! I’m just writing a quick hello here as I get ready to begin my work day. But, it is so nice to come in early and relax a bit before work begins(I’m not sure why, but I do indeed find such pleasure in being the first one in at the office!). So as I sip on my peppermint mocha and ponder the wonders of this life, I sigh. How wonderfully blessed am I and how much have I been given! Be at rest, my friends.

A Night Most Treasured

James HoganLeave a comment

Happy Friday, friends!!! Just a few words as I soon conclude this wonderful Friday evening. Such a peaceful night of rest and joy!! After a long week…oh how wonderful to come home and have a nice dinner and simply enjoy the gifts my God has given me. I am ever so thankful for the mercies of the Lord. Dinner of a nice thick bean soup and a spinach salad(perfect dinner for this cold weather!!)…then finished up watching “State of the Union”, a remarkable and moving movie – Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn starred. Hepburn was a firebrand, paragon of truth and integrity!!! Loved it so much. And now I’m watching the Buffy Thanksgiving episode(“Pangs”) in honour of soon coming holiday. And yes it is unnecessary for me to chronicle this, yet I simply want to offer all thanks to the Lord my God for the simple pleasures He has granted me this night. My love – my heart – is His.

Peace and love, dear friends. Always.

A Haystack World

James HoganLeave a comment

Morning all!! Just a quick entry here on this balmy Thursday morning. I say ‘balmy’ because it is above 70(F) currently, which is completely unacceptable for mid-November. Just saying. I really would like to wear my turtleneck and jacket tomorrow to work, if that’s not too much to ask!! …honestly, I’ll probably wear that combo no matter what. I need winter weather. Please?

Anyways! Aside from the weather, nothing too exciting going on lately. A normal work week here. Tonight, going to the Rockets/Blazers game with James, so that should be fun. First Rockets game of the year! They’re actually not half-bad this year, although they’re not quite in the same class as Warriors/Clippers/Thunder. We shall see if they improve as season progresses…

This weekend promises to be a most busy one, but I shall write more about that later when I have more time. One more note – a week from now I will be in Tampa celebrating Thanksgiving with the fam!!! Cannot wait. Have a most amazing day, you all.

Postscript – because apparently I want to write just a few more words. Been really thinking about my future hope lately…and how much my hope is not in this world. As I look at the horrors present in this world and the frailties of our physical bodies – truly, we are made of bones and skin and beating heart, wonderfully made, yet so fragile! – and as I think on the fate we so richly deserve for our ignominious behaviour towards the Creator of all things…I just long for that day when I am in the presence of my Saviour, my God. Someday. Someday.

Breakfast on the Beach

James HoganLeave a comment

Hello friends and happy Monday!! …apparently I only write on Mondays anymore? I noticed that my last entry was also on a Monday. Ah well, eventually I’ll write a proper length entry and it shall be glorious but…it is not this day. This weekend was a most beautiful weekend…Daniel was in town and so as is proper, we spent oh so much time together. Oh how good it was to see him again!! We’ve had amazing conversations and wonderful times just hanging out. And I am sad that when I return today, he will be gone(he was sleeping on the couch when I left this morning for work…I couldn’t resist and had to wake him up to say goodbye one last time!). Anyways, he is a most dear friend and brother and I shall miss him dearly when he is gone. Again.

Now though, no time to write more. I must be off. Have a beautiful morning, my friends – look to the sky and see the beauty that surrounds you…and note that the Lord our God is the one who made it all. Ponder the lovingkindness of the Lord. Are we not blessed? Amazing love, how can it be – that Thou my God shouldst die for me.

Rachmaninoff

James HoganLeave a comment

Happy Sunday, friends!! I’m now very sadly drinking the dregs of my peppermint mocha frap on this fine afternoon. I may or may not have been here at Starbucks for most the afternoon, but well…I have had quite a bit of work to get done! Finally finished prepping for community group a few minutes ago, then me and Maryanne had a nice chat for a while! In a few minutes, I’m rolling off to Bethel for our Thanksgiving dinner event – that’s going to be super fun to enjoy with my whole church family! Then tomorrow starts another work week which shall hopefully proceed in a somewhat smooth manner.

This weekend, while somewhat busy, has also been very much assuredly blessed by God. I got quite a few errands done yesterday(also including further unpacking of my room. I have too many books…but at least two shelves are now complete!! Two more to go. Also, is there such a thing as too many books? I am as of yet unsure of the answer to that). Anyway, after a busy day yesterday, I enjoyed an evening out on the town! Me and Julie went and grabbed dinner at Dish Society(I had a rather fine pork tenderloin cooked in a cherry reduction sauce…with sauteed spinach and mashed sweet potatoes. Amazing? I can confirm that it was). Afterwards, we made our way downtown and had time for a quick glass of wine and some chat…and then it was symphony time!! Julie had never been to see the Houston Symphony before, so she was in for a treat. There was a guest pianist in town – Daniil Trifonov, who played a superb rendition of Schumann’s piano concerto. So stunningly beautiful was it that we gave him a rousing ovation and he eventually played an etude(…I am too musically ignorant to be able to tell you what it was!). After the intermission, the symphony played Rachmaninoff’s symphony no 2…and it was simply magnificent. I have naught the skill with words to describe it here, but trust me in my assessment of it as…overwhelmingly gorgeous. How special it is that God has granted us the gift of music – and that certain people would be given such skill as to write musical compositions of such intricate beauty that they draw the purest emotion from those who listen. Ah to hear this with my own ears last night….skillfully played by an orchestra most accomplished…I am so grateful for this night of wonder I was given. Oh and I think Julie enjoyed it too! At least, as long as her joyous effusions were genuine! It was really just quite fun to have a night out on the town and feel all high society! I’m now really tempted to get tickets for another symphony next year – they’re doing Rachmaninoff’s piano concerto no 3(not my favorite no 2, or I would have already bought tickets!). We shall see…

Now – I’ve written far too much on this – hopefully you all are not bored to tears. I must fly – have a most joyful remainder of your Sunday, my friends. Look to the heavens and consider what wonderful gifts we have all been given – to live on this earth and enjoy so many good things…sweet music, joyous laughter, dear friends and light from above. Ponder the fact that our heart beats in time with the rhythms of the universe and that we are loved by God Most High. We are loved. Forever and always.

Ginevra

James HoganLeave a comment

Happy Wednesday, one and all!! This is a quick entry, just because I haven’t written in a few days and so thought I might as well! Just made the coffee here at work since clearly no one else gets here as early as I do(6:15 isn’t that early, right? Right??). Now drinking the fruits of my labor in peace and quiet before things start getting hectic. Any other big news over here? Not really…with the exception of me being moved in to my new place in the Heights!! Me and John, roommates again! I’m still trying to get settled in, but that will come eventually, I know. It will probably be much helped once I have time to unpack and shelve my books/movies this weekend!! Then my room will look proper and cozy and it will be wonderful. Now…I clearly have nothing else of substance to say, so I shall be off. Oh one more note! Game 7 of the World Series tonight…Cubs v Indians. I honestly don’t even care who wins, since the Cubs haven’t won the WS since 1908(!!) and the Indians since 1948. So as long as it’s an exciting game, I shall be happy. I do so love World Series baseball!! Alright, now I’m off for real. Peace.

Oh Soul, Canst Thou Repine?

James HoganLeave a comment

Happy Tuesday all!! Figured it’s been a few days since I’ve posted, so might as well put up a quick mid-week update. And sadness of all sadnesses, it’s not even really mid-week. More like…post-Monday. Anyways, I’m sipping on my honey-tinged coffee here and slowly waking up as I prepare for work shortly. I really don’t even have that much to talk about. My upcoming move to John’s place this weekend is demanding most of my attention of late – I’m rather excited for a new place and a new/old roommate! This weekend was pretty fun too, even if I got a severe lack of sleep which rather impeded my wakefulness yesterday! Saturday morning was simply gorgeous here(low 50’s(F)) and so my run in Memorial Park was simply wonderful…it was rather amusing noting how the running population dropped quite a bit, presumably because of the “cold” weather! Anyways, after I’d done my 5.5 miles, went home and then enjoyed my tea and reading time. Later on, went with John and a few of his friends to the Houston Holocaust Museum, where we attended a Bonhoeffer tour. Sobering, enlightening and encouraging all at the same time. Is that possible? I don’t really feel in the mood to describe it more, but oh, how I long for that day when evil such as this is no longer possible.

Saturday night, had a fun movie night with Julie – got to watch some classic Jason Statham in ‘Snatch’ and of course enjoy far too much good conversation and fellowship with dear Julie. Sunday morning…glorious time at church, always. Following, had to bunker down in Starbucks to get my community group prep done(Ecclesiastes 5). After eventually making it home and spending a few hours getting other chores done, the highlight of my week occurred – went to Bethel for ‘Family Worship Night’, where we sang a plethora of gorgeous songs(voted on by us the congregation…I was very proud of all of us for the vast quantity of hymns chosen!!). Worshiping God with uplifted voice and radiant eyes and weeping hearts – oh what a night of sweetest truth and more perfect beauty! I cannot describe further. And so upon ending our night of joy and song, talked with various friends and then made my way to Starbucks for yet more good fellowship with dear friends(Julian, Sarah, Jonathan, Natalie, Vanessa…), talking about such sundry subjects as bad roommates, weddings and dancing, and the fear of the Lord and what this truly means. We actually talked about a lot more too, yet my memory fails me and it is too late here and I have already written too many words. Again though, God has blessed me much with such friends and I dare not complain. Never, never.

Goodbye, friends – I raise my coffee cup in farewell! Peace.