Tag: life

Ignition

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Only a couple minutes before work starts, but thought I’d dash off a quick entry here!

Been a week of craziness here, but a glorious time of coffee, bacon and reading this morning relaxed me sufficiently to be ready for a sweet day today!! Despite all the issues that I’m sure will crop up, I can be at peace knowing that I am exceedingly blessed and preserved, always!!

And seeing the crimson slice of the sun peek up over the horizon today as I drove to work and being pierced by the early morning rays of light, I could not but help and glory in the presence of our Redeemer! Oh do I enjoy Him so every day!!!

(Of course, it’s a bit sad knowing that the gradually shortening days means I will soon not be able to drive to work in light anymore…oh well. I will still rejoice!)

Also, in sports news, the Rays made it to the playoffs the other night in the most epic fashion imaginable!! Down 9 games to the Red Sox at start of September. Came roaring back to be tied with them on the last day of the season. Orioles beat the Sox in the bottom of the 9th on a single with two outs, two strikes. The Rays, meanwhile, were down to the Yankees 7-0 in the 8th. Comeback capped by an Evan Longoria three-run homer in the 8th, and then a Dan Johnson homer in bottom of the 9th(again, two strikes, two outs!!) Went all the way to the 12th…where 5 minutes after the O’s had defeated the Sox, Evan hit *another* homerun to claim victory and the wild card berth!! Sadly, I was asleep the whole time. Still…absolutely AMAZING. And now they’ll play the Rangers – first game tonight! GO RAYS.

Now that I’ve spent most of my time discussing the Rays, no more time to write! It’s work time…time to dominate it up. Peace. Love you all!!

Like the spring rain

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And I am far too sleepy to cohesively write, but I wanted to jot down a quick update here anyway! I’ve had such a marvelous weekend in which the mercies and greatness of God have been exceedingly manifest! I cannot doubt the goodness of the Lord. Seeing His faithfulness to me His servant, and experiencing His love day by day – joy unbounded!

And now I don’t think I can do justice to my most sweet and restful weekend. I will say that today(although I spent a few hours at work!) was most awesome. Waking up late(7:30AM feels SO LATE now!), grabbing a peppermint mocha on the way to work, getting a few hours of work done…enjoying a cucumber salad lunch at home with the sun shining brightly through the window and warming my heart…walking through the Aberdeen streets feeling totally relaxed and at peace a midst the jostling crowds…spending some quality time with quality friends and then coming home to the flat and chilling with John here before I drift off to sleep…yeah. Awesomeness. Just know that I cannot cease from praising our God for his goodness. Always. And now, bedtime.

Peace, y’all! Sleep well and have a most glorious week!!

Moonlight Rising

James HoganLeave a comment

So once again, no time for a long update..but relaxing with a nice mug of coffee this Sunday evening and getting ready for a sweet(and most likely hectic!) week. Had an absolutely lovely weekend – got some errands done yesterday while of course making my obligatory Starbucks visit(now frequenting a different location, so sadly not all the baristas know me yet, but Steph Smart works there, so it’s fun seeing her!) and enjoyed some quality time reading and sipping on my mocha, mmm…

Oh and before I go further, you all should also know I’ve moved flats – now a little closer to city centre, living with John Dixon(a guy from church – he’s awesome!!). It’s pretty sweet having a roommate again, been a couple years! Wow, ever since my times at Stoneridge…seems like it was yesterday and years ago, all at once. It’s not bad living on my own, but all in all, I think I prefer being with someone else! God is good, giving me such a sweet place to stay, with such an awesome guy!

And today was just as lovely as yesterday, relaxing yet more and worshiping the Lord at Gilc this morning! Pastor Dominic’s still going through 1 Timothy in the mornings. Afterwards, me and Joel chilled out at the flat before eventually going to evening service(where we heard a powerful and sobering sermon on the “sheep and the goats”, Matt. 25 – we serve a sovereign God – all glory to Him!!). Me and John are now sitting here in the lounge, trying to postpone going to bed…while I type away here, he’s watching Match of the Day(which is sort of like a compilation of all the highlights of all the football games played today). Sadly, there is no real(American!) football shown. Oh well. By the way, Gators beat Tennessee yesterday(wow, I can still remember my first Tennessee game back in ’05!!) and Redskins beat Arizona today! Go Skins!!

And now that I’ve made my way to sports news, it must be almost time for bed! I will be getting up in about six hours, so I guess sleeping would be good. Have a most lovely night, y’all!! Whoever’s reading this(unless you’re someone in the UK!), I’m sure I miss you.

Peace and love.

Swamplands

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So don’t have a lot of time for a yummy long update now…so you will just have to settle for me showing my face! And yes, I am now back in Scotland after a brief(but supremely wonderful!) couple weeks in Tampa. Got to see so many people that I’ve missed so much my joy cannot be fully expressed. And now as I roll away from Starbucks and walk home on this sleepy rainy day in Aberdeen…

Nameless fear and graceless fall,
hear and bow down, sinners all:

In the Presence, at your altar,
all my weakness praises You.

My spirit sings at Your name
and my eyes shine in Your glory
and my heart is full of wonder
at the sight of Your face.
My spirit weeps in love.
My purpose found.
I am with Thee.
Forever and always.

Softer glory

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Well, it’s late at night…and I really should go to sleep. As my consciousness slowly fades, perhaps this is not the best time to write! But it’s been far too long and while I shall not write long, I must at least let you all know that I am currently in Tampa, what!! It’s been a simply amazing time thus far…relaxing with dad and mom and Katharyn here and relishing the joy of being home. And of course, hopping up to Gainesville over the weekend to see my college-student sisters Maryanne and Laura(WAIT. HOW ARE THEY BOTH IN COLLEGE NOW. THIS IS RIDIUCLOUS) was beyond fabulous!! Oh yeah, and I saw a few other rather awesome people in Gainesville too, but the full story of my Gainesville trip will have to wait for another post. One where my fingers are a bit more nimble and my mind is a bit more quick. And maybe I’ll even have a candlestick.

…alright, yeah. That’s definitely the sign that I need sleep.

But before I do, just hope y’all are having as wonderful a night as I!!! Anyone who still reads this, holla at me! I love you all…sleep well and sweet dreams!

(And if you’re in Scotland, I hope you’re already asleep!)

Peace and love.

Little children

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And we know that the
Son of God has come,
and has given us understanding
so that we may know
Him who is true; and we
are in Him who is true, in
His Son Jesus Christ.
This is the true God
and eternal life.
-1 John 5:24

Love. Beauty.

If only our frail minds could grasp the full infinitude of the love of God!! Let our souls be awash in the knowledge of His love. Let our hearts dance and sing and glory!

Örökké és mindig

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Late getting home from work and dinner calls my name(leftover Pizza Hut, yes!)…but briefly, have to express my sadness that Steven and Anna are both now gone from Aberdeen. Steven left last Friday(but I’ll see him in August in Germany!!) and Anna this evening…and I don’t know when I’ll see her again. Next year Hungary holiday? Um, yes!

But regardless of my silly feelings of loss and sadness…I must just rejoice in our great God in giving me such friends as these. Oh how blessed am I! Hung out with Anna and her sisters last night at my place, and though I(yet again!) got no sleep, it was oh so worth it! From playing random Magyar songs to playing card games(where the power of sisters forced me to admit defeat in every game I played. Hmph) to taking far too many pictures to laughing even more than talking…to driving one last time downtown with Anna…to simply glorying in one last time of awesomeness.

And now that I let my veil of denial down and admit that Steven and Anna are actually gone, I can embrace my sadness with tears of love. My love is with you, Anna, Steven. Always.

And…random poetry snippet just because I feel like it.

To see the stars,
I reach a little higher,
I drown in song.

Tears from love,
tears from joy,
all for unrequited glory
all for long forgotten story
all for the love of a Potter
all for the love of a King.

To see the stars,
I kneel a little lower,
I drown in love.

A shield and bulwark

James HoganLeave a comment

So enjoying a gloriously bright Saturday morning! Sipping on my coffee and crunching on my bacon and reading truth. Can it get much better? I submit that it cannot!!

And while I’m a bit sleepy today(a nap this afternoon is definitely called for)…it was so worth it to have amazing times chilling with Anna and Steven last night…another random shopping adventure, another late night dinner, another movie, another sweet time driving down Union St. together…soaking in sweet music in the beauty of the night. They’re soon to go away back to Hungary and Germany, respectively. And this makes me sad. And I try not to think about it.

Moving away from that…today going to Tineke’s 21st birthday tea(apparently me and Graham are going to be practically the only males there. Hm.) and then will try and catch the women’s Wimbledon final. Seriously, I’m so psyched for these finals today and tomorrow. Both of my favorite players are playing…I think for the first time ever!! Maria Sharapova(versus Kvitova) and Nadal(versus Djokovic). Epic. Can’t wait for today’s match – go Maria!!!

But enough tennis.

Now, I want to get back to reading.

Waterfalls

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And here again we have a quick before-work update! Sitting here on this sunny Thursday morning, preparing for another day of oil-equipment-remanufacture-awesomeness(really, remind me to write a post someday explaining my job in great detail. Or not) as I enjoy my coffee and revel in the beauty of a new morning!

And I just realized this is my 365th post on livejournal. Only took me some seven years to get here!! It is sort of odd, because all the friends I started out with on livejournal are mostly gone. What does that mean that I’m still writing away, hm?

Oh and I was bemoaning my short commute today…at this rate, I’ll never get to finish the final song on the newest Rhapsody of Fire album(“From Chaos to Eternity” – epic title, neh?). Of course, the final song is some nineteen minutes long. Oh well, maybe there will be enough traffic tomorrow morning so that I can hear the whole song in one drive.

And enough randomness for the morning?

Time to work!

Oh by the way, the book of Matthew is awesome. Been enjoying it incredibly so lately. You all should read it. Right now.