Tag: journal

Far Too Beautiful

James HoganLeave a comment

Good morning, dear friends!! It’s a beautifully cold morning here in Houston and it’s about time for work to begin – but thought I’d pop on to the dusty world of livejournal and say hello. I’ve had an interesting few days(I’m terrible I know…no time to share the details!) and while it can at times be easy to moan and fret about the things that go not the way I’d prefer, I really can’t stomach the thought of complaining when I know the God I belong to. And on this morning that I’ve been constantly reminded of the rich and endless love that has been granted me, I leave you with these words from one of my favorite songs lately…

And heaven knows
I’m prone to leave
the only God
I should have loved,
and yet You’re far too beautiful to leave me.

For Emma

James HoganLeave a comment

Hello friends!! I am at Starbucks in Houston…and really wanted to write something good and proper on this second day of the year 2016. But I can’t think of what to say. Tragedy of tragedies. And so just to fill this space, will post the track list for my most recent mix CD(one I gave to Maryanne and Laura for Christmas! Oh, and to John too. And Julie). And we’ll see if it stands the test of time, but I am very pleased with it and think it may be my most favourite mix yet. Thus, I present:

the tragic fall and most surprising Redemption of anakin skywalker

1. Thus Always to Tyrants – The Oh Hellos
2. Pressing Flowers – The Civil Wars
3. Poison and Wine – The Civil Wars
4. Tip of My Tongue – The Civil Wars
5. Flume – Bon Iver
6. Master of None – Beach House
7. Danse Macabre – The Oh Hellos
8. Auburn and Ivory – Beach House
9. Re: Stacks – Bon Iver
10. Seven Swans – Sufjan Stevens
11. Paths – Seryn
12. I Was Wrong – The Oh Hellos
13. Hold On – Seryn
14. To The Desert – The Branches
15. Going Home – The Branches
16. Lay Me Down – The Oh Hellos
17. At the Table – Josh Garrels
18. The Sower’s Song – Andrew Peterson
19. Revelator – Josh Garrels
20. Trees – The Oh Hellos

And you may notice quite a bit of repetition..but I just couldn’t help it. This list very much reflects my new favourite artists and albums of 2015 – you’ll see Beach House, Bon Iver, Sufjan, Branches, Josh Garrels, Andrew Peterson, etc…and what I’m saying is my very favourite of this past year – The Oh Hellos(many many thanks to John for introducing me to them and persuading me to go to a most awesome concert of theirs in Austin!!! I am most grateful). This mix is also very much thematically arranged. My sisters and Caisson had much fun trying to figure out how this mix mapped to Anakin’s journey…and while that somewhat works, this mix is most of all designed to show the journey of a lonely broken person from darkness into light…from the great sickness of the soul(complete with pride and sorrow and supreme self love…) to the realisation that we cannot save ourselves and that we are totally broken and lost…and there is only One who can save. And that is the story and metaphor of this mix. Although it’s not perfect, I do love it and it also happily matches my current music tastes as well. What can I say?

And that was a bit longer than I even thought I could write today!! Now it’s already far too late in the afternoon and I am off to Trader Joe’s to do some food shopping(thinking sausage and mash tonight for dinner!) and then back to my place to enjoy a relaxing Saturday afternoon. Will most likely read some more of my George Whitefield bio…it’s so so good. I can now un-categorically state that it is my favourite ever biography(sorry Edwards!!) and I am very sad that I am already almost halfway through Volume 2. So good and so encouraging. Oh that I could be blessed by God in such manner as Whitefield! Oh that I could serve my God in so wholehearted a fashion and with such pure and passionate love! And I then muse upon my current state and realise how very blessed I am. I am known by God. I am loved by God. This I know and in this I rejoice. And now I pray – in this knowledge and joy may I live my life and walk day by day. May my heart’s song ever be raised up to my Lord and my God. Forever and always I sing,
Oh for a thousand tongues to sing – my great Redeemer’s praise!

Forever

James HoganLeave a comment

Brief entry! Just rolled in to work after a couple hours of sleep(yes, after a tragic few hours sitting on the tarmac in Houston last night…I didn’t quite get to bed until sometime after two in the morning). I have my hazulnut mocha and it is a beautifully cold morning and I have to confess I had a pretty sweet drive in to work…listening to the last few pieces of the Messiah. Glorious. And a perfect way to start this work week. Although I am still a bit sad to be back in Houston after leaving the family in Florida last night…such sweet times were had with Dad, Mom, Maryanne, Laura, Caisson…and it’s oh so bittersweet to leave them and fly back here to Houston. And now I’m off(Oh – one sidenote! Best football weekend in a long time this past weekend…Skins beat the Eagles to win the NFC East – represent! And in my second(and final?) year playing fantasy football with people here, I clinched the league title in convincing fashion, 139-50. Not a bad football weekend at all!).

And now I really have to go and start work here. Sipping my coffee and being productive. Sounds like a plan. Have a sweet day, one and all!

Tidings of Comfort

James HoganLeave a comment

Happy Monday, dear friends!! I meant to write a few more words than I now have time for(maybe I should postpone checking my email until *after* I’ve written my planned entry!). Anyways, it’s a gorgeous December morning here(52 degrees as I drove to work – delightful!!) and I got to listen to some rousing Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas music on my drive to work. Now, I’m sipping on my hazelnut mocha and enjoying the peace that comes with an early morning. But seriously, I didn’t come here to talk about my coffee and this beautiful morning. I really wanted to write a review of my most recent favorite book. The long-form review may have to wait, so a snippet will have to suffice. Dallimore’s George Whitefield – ever heard of it? Well, I just started reading it last week for the first time. I’ve owned it for a while now, but finally decided to take a little break from Owens(love Owens, but can only take so much at one time!!) and read this biography. And wow, is it excellent – why did I wait this long?? I can’t think of a good way to say this without sounding exceedingly arrogant, but – I’ve read some 240 pages in the past five days…and I’m having trouble putting it down when I really should be doing other things. Thankfully, it’s a nicely massive two volume biography, so I have plenty more still to read. Anyways – since I really *don’t* have a lot of time to write, just wanted to state simply how much this book has blessed me these past few days – it has truly enlivened my heart and warmed my soul. Reading about this great man of God – so mightily full of the Spirit and yet so humble before the Lord – has been oh so encouraging. (And a tad bit convicting. Whitefield started his ministry when he was…about six years younger than I am now. Hm) And I just love reading about what God has done. God is working – always! And just as He worked through Whitefield and others, so He will(and is!) working through me, despite my weaknesses and frailty. Praise be to God – amen and amen! And it drives me to want to know more about what God has for me in my future – I want to serve God with every thread of my being and I tremble at bringing shame to His name by my failings. Oh how I long to glorify God every moment of every day – may that not be a thought for far-off heaven time. No, this is what I strive for here and now – to know God truly and to make Him known. And to witness His beauty and rest in the glories of His presence and to be oh so aware of His Spirit resting in me and to never cease from being in awe of the eternal lovingkindness of the Lord God of hosts. This is my prayer. May God keep me humble before Him. May God make me mighty in His power. May God keep me safe in His loving arms. Forever and always.

Thus Always to Tyrants

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Let me die, let me drown, lay my bones in the ground
I will still come around when the time for sleep is through
Over hill, over dale, through the valley and vale
Do not weep, do not wail, I am coming home to you
Every tomb, every sea, spit the bones from your teeth
Let the ransomed be free as the revel meets the day
Let the valleys awake, let them rattle and shake
In the wind that remakes all that time has worn away

To and fro, I will not follow
Where you go, I will not also

I will look for you as the sun rises higher
When the dry bones dance with the timbrel and lyre
There’s a wind alive in the valley
It will fill your lungs, if you’ll have it

Where I go, will you still follow?
Will you leave your shaded hollow?
Will you greet the daylight looming,
Learn to love without consuming?

(Disclaimer: Not written by me!! My new fav band, the Oh Hellos. I’m a bit obsessed with them just now. Just a bit. Happy Wednesday, dear friends.)

The Lions of James

James HoganLeave a comment

Happy Monday my friends!! Don’t have long to write, as work needs to begin in earnest shortly…(even though it is not even six AM here yet!). But I wanted to at least write a few words to let you know this December is already rolling along nicely. I can’t believe it’s almost time for Christmas. Ridiculous. But I still have two more weeks of work to conquer(along with a few Christmas parties to attend!) before I can think about home time in Tampa. And this past weekend(while tiring!) has been most delightful…besides fun events with lots of people(Christmas party at Abby and Claire’s on Friday! Dinner and movie(Creed – awesomely done!) with the gang for Matias’ birthday on Saturday!)…have had some quality talks with dear friends who I value greatly. And just realise how truly blessed I am to have such amazing friends. Talking with Laura K on Saturday…Daniel yesterday(I miss that guy!!)…then me and John had a sweet evening last night…eating pizza, watching random football game and just talking about life. So yes, as busy as I have been…I just want to sit back for a moment here and remind myself of the friends that I love so much.

Now – work time here y’all. Peace and love.

Hazelnut Lane

James HoganLeave a comment

Hello my friends!! I am posting this before work begins this morning, partly because I realise I haven’t properly written anything in far too long! And I thought that trend of not posting needs to be arrested immediately!! And even now, I don’t have the time to say much. But it is a beautifully cold morning here(low 40s – for Houston, shockingly cold!) and it’s pretty awesome finally getting to wear a turtleneck and sweater to work again. Yes, I am easily made happy. And so as I drove to work this morning with my hazulnut mocha, feeling warm and cosy in my car as I watched the sky slowly lighten and listened to Sufjan’s soft jams…I just realised how truly blessed I am – I have been given so much. No doubt there, none at all.

And really, I think back over this past weekend – and am even more thankful!! I’ve been having an interesting few months here(and few weeks! Maybe I shall discuss in depth at a later date, we shall see) and I know God has definitely been teaching me to even more fully rely on Him and enjoy Him purely and above all else. And I’ve still been feeling a bit emotionally weary…and then right before this upcoming weekend trip to Austin, I ended up getting physically sick! A nasty cold and fever…you know, all that good stuff. I almost cancelled the trip to Austin, but John talked me into it. And I’m very glad he did. Drove up with John to Austin Friday afternoon and spent some quality time hanging out with him that night and Saturday morning(before Melissa and Jim drove up to join us!). Me and John got lots of talking time…of course interspersed with some quality Doctor Who watching. Of course. And once Jim and Melissa joined us, we had a sweet afternoon(more wonderful talking as we walked in the Colorado River Wildlife Sanctuary in the middle of Austin – gorgeous walk, did not see any wildlife. Still, would come again). And as I walked on the woods trail and breathed deep of the crisp wintry air and looked at the piercing blue sky above…I gave thanks to God for his many and diverse blessings that He has given me. Later that evening was the object of our trip – the Oh Hellos concert! I’d not really listened to their music much(Christian folk/rock, I guess?), but John loves them, so I figured it’d be fun! And it was simply a grand time! Outdoor venue, so very very cold though – had my coat zippered all the way to my chin, still shivering in between sets! But being with Jim and Melissa and John…hearing beautiful music and looking up at the moon shining down on us from the nighttime sky and feeling the sure confidence that comes from knowing I am loved by my Father God. And so yesterday morning, we enjoyed a sweet breakfast at a French cafe, then worshiped at a church in downtown Austin…and after a much enjoyed pizza lunch, me and John drove back to Houston, where – of course – more quality talking time was had. And so now I am back in Houston, about to embark on another work week(ok – a very short two day work week!!) and though I know not all before me will be smiles and laughter, I know that God is with me and I cannot wait to see the things He has in store for me. The Lord God is my joy and my confidence – now and forever.

One thing I have asked from the LORD, that shall I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD
And to meditate in His temple.

The Turn of the Tide

James HoganLeave a comment

Hey friends!! A very quick post indeed, since I’m posting from my phone and my fingers are not as nimble as I would like. All I really want to say is.. a very awesome afternoon is being enjoyed here and I am ever so thankful. Right now a pot of chili simmers on the stove and my all time favorite movie plays on the TV(The Two Towers…*of course*…) and I’ve had some quality poolside time reading and soaking in the sun and good times were spent with friends – Ernie, Mandy, Abby, Claire and Angela!! – laughing and talking and reading/reciting scripture…and while I know this world is broken and is ever groaning…Right now I simply see those gifts God has given me and I must and shall lift up my voice in praise to Him – oh for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise!!!

And now…Two Towers and hot chili. Not much better, y’all. Peace friends.

The City

James HoganLeave a comment

Hey friends – happy Monday!!! As I sit here at work, slowly waking up and preparing to start a new work week…I wrap my hands around my delicious pumpkin spice mocha, just enjoying this morning. What a beautiful day!! And though I am a bit tired as well, I suppose a weekend in New York City will do that to you!! I wish I had time to write about all the awesome things that me and Maryanne got up to(what adventures were had!!), alas – you may have to wait a bit, sadly. Just know that wonderful times were had…from walking around and exploring the city(lots of walking time in Brooklyn! Central Park! Navigating the masses of humanity in Times Square! Looking out over the city at twilight from the Rockefeller Center!) to attending some epic events(Wicked!!! I cannot express in words how awesome this is. Been listening to the soundtrack from Wicked since high school…and getting to see and hear this in person was simply unbelievable. Defying gravity, indeed!! I can see why it’s such a popular musical…me and Maryanne saw this at the end of a very very long day, but it was one of the highlights, FOR SURE. Oh and we also may or may not have been at the taping of The Tonight Show, with Jimmy Fallon!. Surreal. After seeing this on TV – not often, but occasionally! – seeing it in person with Maryanne was just SO COOL. One of the guests was Olivia Wilde(actress on House) and it was sweet seeing her interact with Jimmy(and play this ridiculous watermelon game, that ended with Olivia just picking up the watermelon and throwing it on the stage. Hilarious). Anyways, the whole show – not to mention high-fiving Jimmy at the end as he ran up and down the aisles – was a time to remember. And totally worth waking up before one in the morning to stand in line for.)

Now I’m thinking I need to start getting work done here, so no time to write too much more…(we also had a day in Philadelphia!), but just thinking back on this weekend now, with all the fun times and quality conversation I had with Maryanne…my heart smiles. It was truly, truly special being with Maryanne and doing so many incredible things together. Cannot put in words. And being in such a great city and witnessing all the many people living their varied crazy lives…I just think on their need for Christ. And I pray for the city of New York. May God bless that city and the people that call it their home. And of course, I thank God for the good care He took of Maryanne and myself. His hand was upon us, not one single doubt there.

And now, my friends, I really must be off. Peace and love – may your week be full of awesomeness!

Streets of New York

James HoganLeave a comment

Hey friends – happy Saturday!!! I am very wisely making use of the wi-fi here at Starbucks and hence you all get a small update. I do apologise that my literary(or not so literary??) output has been so drastically reduced ever since I moved to my new place. My new apartment is rather fine, if I say so myself…but I don’t think I’ve yet written an entry from there. Alas.

Anyways – it’s a fine September day here in Houston and I’ve already gotten quite a few things done(the most important – obviously – being the crafting of my newest mix CD. I’m not sure if it’s perfect yet, but figure I’ll take it to NYC this weekend and let Maryanne trial it out(and if it proves acceptable, I may post the track list here eventually…)) Oh have I not mentioned that yet? Yep – me and Maryanne are going on a city adventure this weekend – I fly out Thursday morning and then me and Maryanne have a glorious four days to explore NYC(and Philly! – on Saturday). I’ve never visited NYC(to my shame?) and I’m pretty psyched. Of course, mostly because me and Maryanne get some quality hang-out time. Who cares about the city anyway, eh?

Also – got some fun news today – two people I haven’t seen in quite some time messaged me and asked if we could hang out when they’re in town. I was definitely confused(but elated!) to get messages from both in one morning! Joe Patz is going to be back in October and Mark Neish(wow I haven’t seen him since…I left Scotland!!) will be here in November for a week of training. So long-missed-friend-reunion times…coming up. God is good. Indeed, I get reminded now how much I’ve been blessed with FAR TOO MANY amazing friends in my life. These are just a few of them…always remember the good things that God has done for me, indeed.

Any other news of late? I’m sure I could think of some random tidbits, but really nothing else crazy in my life right now. Hopefully this post makes up for my long absence. Peace, my friends – peace and love.