Tag: life

A study in cerulean

James HoganLeave a comment

G’morning! I really don’t have time for a long update today(actually, I *do* have time, but I figure I’ve been at Starbucks quite long enough today, so don’t want to linger too much longer!), but I just noticed I haven’t written in here since December 17th – shocking! I didn’t even get my traditional Christmas update up. Oops. That’s probably partly because my Christmas routine was dramatically thrown off this year, mainly because of the fact that I was here in Scotland instead of home in Florida. A bit different from the norm. Slightly. Anyways, although I could detail my awesome Christmas and New Year’s events here with friends(replete with many games, far too much good traditional Scottish Christmas fare, relaxing to the utmost, reading more than I’ve read in months, and more than just a little coffee…), I will spare you this once. And just say that though I was(and am) saddened not to be home with the fam for Christmas, God my Father has given me so much here to be grateful for. And by not dwelling on the sadness, I can rejoice and be thankful for what I do have here in Scotland!! I’m thinking I probably won’t make it home to Florida until at the earliest May, but I’ll keep you all informed.

And once again, my fingers are out-pacing the best of my intentions to keep this short. And I’ve not really said anything! But maybe that’s alright. Maybe I can just write and let the words pour out of my fingers in a waterfall of muses and songs. Or not. But nonetheless, I’m not going to do a 2011-year-end survey, but know that I was exceedingly blessed. As always!! And for 2012, it’s going to be an amazing year, that I know! While the details are clouded in the mists of the furiously raging river of the future, there is little doubt that this year will be a year to remember. Just saying.

Also, though once my heart was lost in the wars of this age and I was trampled upon like the dust of this earth, and though at times I still feel this is so, I cannot help but marvel at the ever more abundant harvests of love that have been granted to me, a lost one. A sinner. In the past, yea. But even in these current days, I fail and I fall and I weep and I call and yet I rest on the banks of the river of my salvation. A river so full of life, ne’er was anything so beautiful beheld. But from Christ alone, does this river spring. And so do I lift my voice and lift my song and lift my life, always. Always.

Pardon my somewhat emotional musings…at least I will refrain from writing more!

And to you all, peace and love.

Oh blissful morning!

James HoganLeave a comment

And don’t have long to write as it’s about time to go to Gilc to do some Christmas caroling! One note on Christmas music – I do so love that this is the one time of year where you can go to Starbucks and hear songs praising Jesus – such awesomeness!

And I’ll leave you with this…

The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The LORD has clothed and girded Himself with strength;
Indeed the world is firmly established, it will
not be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting.
The floods have lifted up, O LORD,
The floods have lifted up their voice,
The floods lift up their pounding waves.
More than the sound of many waters,
Than the mighty breakers of the sea,
The LORD on high is mighty.

Your testimonies are fully confirmed;
Holiness befits Your house, O LORD,
forevermore.

Epic glory. Ah, Psalm 93, love it.

Love you all.

Hunger games

James HoganLeave a comment

Since I am at Starbucks at the moment, could not pass up the opportunity to briefly update! Got a little work done but now it’s time to make my way home as I have an epic afternoon cooking adventure planned. Pork chops, potatoes, green beans? I say yes. Now I just need to figure out a suitable movie to go along with my cooking..

Have a glorious afternoon in the love of our God, you all! Oh the wonders of His love!

Summons of sunlight

James HoganLeave a comment

And since I’m sitting here in Starbucks this gloriously cold afternoon in Aberdeen, I feel almost compelled to write at least a few lines! Although I must confess my writing muse is cold and I don’t think I’m up to my usual standards of wordiness today. We shall see. I just knew I couldn’t let this opportunity to write a brief entry pass! I currently don’t have internet in the flat, so my online time is quite limited as of late…so this morning I trudged down George Street(making my customary doughnut stop) to Starbucks where I’ve been catching up on correspondence ever since! Oh and before I came here, stopped by the music store and picked up Imaginaerum, latest Nightwish album!! I’m sorely tempted to listen to it now, but will wait until I can listen to it properly at home. One amazing advantage to living in Europe…I was able to get this album now. You know when it’s released in the US? January 10th. Yep, there are certainly advantages! Anyways, I’m expecting this album to be epic, even more so than Dark Passion Play. (Other random note, now that I’m talking about Nightwish…Laura got me their “End of an Era” live DVD – watching that at home together with her was simply awesomeness)

And while my writing will hasn’t deserted me yet, I’ll continue, just touching on the highlights of the last few weeks! Last weekend, where was I, you may ask? Well, not in Aberdeen. I was in Glasgow, seeing Coldplay in concert! They kicked off their Mylo Xyloto tour in Glasgow and I WAS THERE. Sort of odd thinking that back in 2009, I snobbishly thought that Coldplay couldn’t possibly appeal to me since they were too mainstream. Ah how foolish was I. Anyways, Rosemary, Beth, Bree and I all rocked out and had a most amazing time. I’m not a big concert person in general…but I wanted to see them at least once! And they played all my favorite songs, so I was most satisfied. Yellow, Scientist, Fix You, Violet Hill…mmm, aural loveliness.

And seriously – enough about music now! I do enjoy good music so, but never may I let it subvert my worship to the King. Never.

On to my other highs for the month(year!) – home in Florida!! Of course it was awesome. Of course it was amazing. And of course I wasn’t quite ready to leave. And of course I am far too blessed. Besides watching far too much 24 and eating food far too delectable and buying far too many books to bring home(seriously, I had to bring an extra bag just for my books!! Hunger Games trilogy plus Lord of the Rings plus Towers of Midnight paperback plus a couple Joel Rosenberg books…YES), I simply loved relaxing with Dad and Mom and Katharyn and Maryanne and Laura…love you all, always.

And no, I did not limit myself to Tampa! Spent a day in Gainesville early on in my trip to catch up with RobG(yeah, we may or may not have spent over five hours together talking and playing frisbee and praying and…yeah) and awesomely got to see Deanna too! And after Thanksgiving and Christmas(yes, we celebrated Christmas on November 25th, since I won’t be home for real Christmas…), Maryanne and Laura and I drove up to Gainesville for the UF/FSU game! (Which I will not comment further on for the duration of this entry) But the most lovely part of the weekend(by far) was simply being with my sisters and the whole Lebo family, where I stayed a couple nights. What was included in this weekend adventure? Of course, classic awesomeness. Disc golf, epic board games(MUST get a copy of Shogun!!), delicious food, ping-pong and fun times talking and talking…yeah just amazing times. And I hadn’t seen Becca in nearly *two* years. So being able to talk to her again(in person!) was just glorious. Of course, my Gainesville trip had to come to an end eventually, so I bid farewell to Maryanne and Laura and the Lebo fam…I shall return, someday!

But all I can say about my Florida trip was that God has blessed me exceedingly…knowing I needed a time like that with the people he’s blessed me with so. And now, I worship him in humble adoration. Why do I deserve such extreme and everlasting love? I know not. I simply exalt my God and lift up His name – Him do I worship. Always.

A swiftly tilting planet

James HoganLeave a comment

And about dinner time here in Tampa! Only have a minute to write, but wanted to dash off a quick entry before dinner! Hopefully a longer, more in-depth one will follow later tonight, but I make no promises…

Just wanted to state how awesome our God is, truly. And how blessed I am, always. Tonight I spend my last night here at home for a while, before flying back to Scotland tomorrow, but oh have these last few weeks been amazingly awesome. From being blessed with such a loving family to being encouraged by the best friends a man can have…like I have said many times before, I am overwhelmed by the goodness of the Lord.

And now, time to help Mom and pour water glasses for dinner as Dad and Katharyn are almost home. Roast chicken, potatoes, onions, mmmm…chocolate cake to follow, along with some 24-watching? Yeah, pretty good night coming up if you ask me.

Over and out.

Scent of Roses

James HoganLeave a comment

And as I think of writing a few lines here…I sign in happiness, relaxing at home in Tampa!! The cool Florida sea-breezes are blowing through the house and I smell lunch(hash – fried beef, potatoes, onions and carrots, mmmmm…) on the stove and I’m chilling here with Dad…yep it’s a good day!! Just had a sweet few minutes outside in the glorious Florida sunshine, watering the roses and digging in the garden a bit.

But no, getting home wasn’t that easy. After a somewhat over-adventuresome journey home(missed my connecting flight in Amsterdam, barely got on the next flight to Detroit, then snagged the last seat – first class, yo – on the Detroit-Tampa flight to arrive home some five hours later than I’d planned. And without my luggage. But I’m here home now and all is well!! Oh how wonderful it is to relax with Dad, Mom and Katharyn and enjoy this lovely vacation!

Yesterday was Dad’s 58th birthday!! So of course we celebrated in classic Hogan-style, complete with Pizza Hut and a few episodes of ’24’. How we do it! Dad and I finished up the evening watching the Oklahoma State(ranked #2) vs. Iowa State game…went down to 2OT with Iowa State pulling off the massive upset, complete with the field being rushed! A good birthday present to my dad, I’ll say! (Yes, Iowa State alumnus)

And now lunch smells almost complete – and how can I spend too much time on the computer when I can spend it with the fam here! – so I think I’ll be away. Before I do…some sweet verses I read this morning…(actually I would love to quote verbatim Psalms 37 and 38 in their entirety, but I’ll spare you)

Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgement as the noonday.
-Ps. 37:4-6

Oh glorious verses! How I long to follow my God in all that I do – and for Him to bring forth righteousness in me as the rising sun! Oh bliss.

And I’m really off now. Love y’all.

O ancient doors

James HoganLeave a comment

And good morning from Aberdeen, y’all!!

Not going to write long today(yeah right…well, I’ll give it my best shot), but it’s been far too long since I’ve updated so thought I should at least write a few words. In Starbucks this fine Saturday morning and have just enjoyed a praline mocha and a chocolate doughnut and some glorious reading! Of course, it’s a tad bit distracting writing now with the couple on the sofa next to me discreetly(or not) making out. Seriously, this is Starbucks, yo. Not your home.

Anyways! Guess what! I will be in Florida in approximately five days from now! And unlike several of my other trips back to Florida this year, it will not be for work or visa purposes…no, going back home for vacation, hurrah!! Specifically for Thanksgiving. And I just cannot wait to relax with Dad and Mom and Katharyn…and then see Maryanne and Laura when they return and we’ll all be together and again and it will be awesome. Oh yes. And a weekend in Gainesville(UF/FSU game!) seeing some friends that I haven’t seen in far too long? Yeah, that’s not too bad either.

I have to say, I am most grateful to God for giving me this very well-timed vacation, as work’s been quite intensely busy lately. Not complaining for the over-abundance of orders being placed through our plant lately, but I think we’ve all been getting a little tired out. And I will rejoice supremely to have this time at home…especially with such amazing people as God has blessed me with as friends and family. My cup overflows, y’all. What can I say??

(Oh and side note…I’ll be back in Aberdeen the first of December. Third of December is Coldplay concert in Glasgow – it will be just beautiful!! Rose and Beth and her sister Bree are coming too…Can’t wait! Also, this year has been absolutely ridiculous music-wise. Two Rhapsody albums came out this year. Two Enfield albums came out this year! One Coldplay album. New Nightwish album coming out December 2nd. Coldplay concert December 3rd. Oh yeah and…Snow Patrol concert here in Aberdeen 30th of January. Living in Europe is awesome. End-extremely-long-side-note)

So now as I enjoy my last Saturday in Aberdeen for a couple weeks, hope you all are having a most excellent day! I’m off to do a little downtown walking(maybe even shopping? Shocker!) so my writing will be cut short.

Peace, y’all. Peace and love.

Swallowed in the sea

James HoganLeave a comment

Well, I *was* going to go to bed freakishly early tonight(say, around 9pm!!), but as happens many a night, I got distracted by a good book. Oops. I really should keep the books further from my bed.

Anyways, reading in “The Glory of Christ” by John Owen…and I got to say, as much of a struggle it sometimes is to wade through his gorgeously intricate paragraphs, it’s so worth it. Any of you that own this(hey, I can’t be the only one!) needs to read the last few pages of Chapter 10…amazingly beautiful. I don’t quote from books often here, but…

The due remembrance of what the blessed Lord Jesus hath done for us, of the ineffable love which was the spring, cause and fountain of what he so did – thoughts of the mercy, grace, peace and glory which he hath procured thereby – are the great and unconquerable motives to fix our faith, hope, trust and confidence in him.

His divine nature is the ground and warranty for our so doing. This is that from whence he is the due and proper object of all divine faith and worship. From the power and virtue thereof do we expect and receive all those things which in our believing on him we seek after; for none but God can bestow them on us, or work them in us. There is in all the actings of our faith on him, the voice of the confession of Thomas, “My Lord and my God.”

Oh lovely.

And I could go on quoting..but I shall refrain. For now!

Oh but… just thinking about another one of my favs…

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that
He loved us and sent His Son to be the
propitiation for our sins.

And from this amazing truth does our love spring!

Adrift in raging seas
and lost in the maelstrom of silence
and seized in the chains of the poets
and drowning in rainbows.

Drowning yet grasping and
gasping and hoping and
praying and trying and
living yet dying.

Until there came a light,
the light that was a man
the man that was a lord
Our Lord and our God!

So no longer do we writhe,
and no longer do we write,
but still, but still, we sigh
in love, for love, divine.

Have a most glorious night, y’all!!

All my tears

James HoganLeave a comment

Holla, y’all!

And you know where I’m chilling now? In Amsterdam, what! Currently sitting in the departure lounge at Schipol, as my flight back to Aberdeen leaves in a little more than two hours…been here for a couple days now, on a two-day training course(“Coaching Others”). It finished a few hours ago, so I was able to spend a couple of luxurious hours writing in my notebook and enjoying the goodness of the Lord in bringing me to new lands and new adventures!! Grabbed a quick dinner and then I realized they have free wi-fi here(well, at least for half an hour) and that I have my laptop with me…so decided a shiny new update was in order.

And now I’ve about run out of things to say, but just know this – the lovingkindnesses of the LORD are everlasting!

Oh and tomorrow’s bound to be a crazy work day back in Aberdeen – since I’ve been gone for two days and I’m slightly worried to see what’s gone in my absence. Pray for me.

Also! Talked to Anna briefly today in between my training sessions – such sweetness hearing her voice again! I think our God is far better to me than I deserve, giving me such friends as her. Hungary trip’s definitely happening next year, all I’m saying!

And now I must sign off, as I see I only have 11 minutes of internet left and I want to write a quick email back to Dad.

Peace and love, y’all. I love you all so much – more than you know.

Speaking foreign language..

James HoganLeave a comment

Starbucks time, yo!

Yep, it’s a Saturday morning here and I’m rocking out in Starbucks…catching up on some reading(just finished reading Joshua…awesome book. “…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”), enjoying my peppermint mocha and doughnut(that I bought as I was walking down George St. – SO GOOD), catching up on some emails and now relaxing here in the soft light of the Starbucks basement(and yes, this is ok because it’s rainy outside, so not really that nice to be out today)…

I always find it interesting looking around at all the other people here in Starbucks(hmmm, hopefully this doesn’t make me too much of a creeper?)…out of the ten other people in the room here, three are on laptops like me and the rest are enjoying their friends. One guy over in the corner also has his white earbuds in as he’s pondering whatever’s on his computer…a blonde girl is sipping what looks like a latte as the light from her Mac shines on her face and she flexes her fingers..another girl in a rad black and gold headband is chewing away on something as she taps on her Toshiba…and then there’s me, a random bearded fellow in his brown San-Fran shirt, tapping furiously on his Vaio as he attempts to chronicle his morning… The rest of the people in the room are happily(or so I imagine) talking to each other, but I can’t really hear them as I’m currently also listening to music(Nightwish – “End of All Hope”) for writing muse purposes.

Alright, enough randomness for you yet?? I’m honestly not sure why I started this entry…not a lot has gone on since I last wrote here(what – yesterday?), but I figure I’m in Starbucks and in a writing mood….so now is as good a time as any.

And I’m now writing this almost an hour later from the previous paragraph…just got done writing some emails and messages to people whom I haven’t seen in far too long…it’s almost depressing how long it’s been since I’ve seen some friends. To think that almost two years has gone by since I’ve seen some dear friends…yeah. Trying not to think about that! Moving off that topic…apparently I’ve scared most of the people here at Starbucks away, as there’s only four people left besides me! A few people talking at a table…but two of the laptop people are still here, too! White Earbud Guy moved tables(I don’t really know why?) to where Blonde Mac Girl was sitting(she’s long gone)…and Rad Headband Girl is still in her corner across from me, intently staring into her screen.

And I think this update must be the longest one I’ve ever written with so little actual content. My apologies!! (Well sort of. Writing about random people at Starbucks is surprisingly fun.)

On a cloud-laced sun blessed morning,
taking the path less trod than most,
relishing once more wind’s caress,
slaying once more grim nighttime’s ghost.

Breathing in the rose’s music,
Humming soft with the lyre of sighs,
Taking again the hand of light,
dreaming again of mist blessed skies.

Laughing with whirlwinds,
Dancing with seas,
Embracing
in arms
of twining
destinies
and falling ever faster
through the mirrors
of our wondrous songs
and feeling ever fuller
of hope more divine
and flying ever farther
into life and love.

And…

Love of stars and love of hosts,
Peace to men and truth be told!
Kindness felt and fire beheld,
Riches fall and powers ghost,
Swirling praises, gleaming throne,
All behold the glorious Lord!
For now and forever
and with the stars of eternity
and to the God of infinity
and to His eternal majesty
be all glory and praise
and honor and might
and power and anthem
and beauty and riches
and love all sublime
forever and now
for love all perfected
for love all divine
to our Lord
to our God
Amen and Amen.
Hallelujah.
Forever.
All glory to our God.