Tag: review

2013, In Memoriam

James HoganLeave a comment

And so does 2013 end. And so does the year 2014 AD begin – may it truly be a year of our Lord. So it is and so it will be.

And with those words, let us celebrate and praise the Lord who this year has made! Happy New Year, one and all!!!

I have thought about doing a year-review survey, but truly, I think I could get much more words in by just rambling on, and I think my rambling might be more interesting than answering survey questions. Of course, possibly not, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take. Anyways – 2013! What a year it’s been. I was talking to some friends at our party last night and was remarking that 2013 was a year of great change for me. And I am most intrigued to see if 2014 will be as life-changing as this past year has been! We shall see. We shall see.

Anyways, before I bore you all to death(already too late? Oops), what’s been the highlights of 2013? Truly, too many to mention. I did a brief review of my journal entries from this past year. My discoveries? Apparently I’ve spent a lot of time in coffeeshops. I’ve drank lots of hot beverages. I’ve often promised to just write a few words and failed miserably at doing so. I’ve witnessed many glorious mornings. I’ve been continuously overwhelmed by the glories of our Father God. And that about sums it up.

And now I sit in a coffeeshop(Beans!!) eating my ham and cheese panini(with tomatoes and onions!). Yes I am a creature of habit at times. What can I say? Truly, though, it’s wonderful to enjoy this day off work and sit here sipping my mocha and thinking back over this past year and thanking God for what He has done in my life.

And that’s really what this post is about, is it not? I think sometimes we can be so self-centered as we reflect upon our past, but let that not be the case here. As I write these words of memory, let they bring glory to our Father in heaven. So let His praises be sung in all the earth!

And so 2013. I started out this year living in Aberdeen and I have finished it in Houston, Texas. I have returned to my homeland(in a manner of speaking). I have left friends innumerable behind in Aberdeen and I still miss them deeply. But now I am living in Texas and I am determined through the grace of my God to discover all the wonders and works He has in store for me. Texas is my home now. And I have already met and become close to so many people here, I can truly not complain!! Last night, bringing in the new year at the Youth Reach party with all my Bethel friends was simply fantastic. A few minutes after midnight, a few of us(Zach, Angela, Stef…) sang worship songs together as we stood in a field and watched the fireworks paint colours across the sky. Is that not a simply wonderful way to start off 2014? I say it is. (Of course, it was also pretty sweet to be able to go over to Andrew’s place afterward and play cards for a few hours. The girls had never played before, so we attempted to enlighten them in the dark arts of poker!)

But I have got off track. I keep meaning to talk more about 2013, but what shall I say? Shall I recount every shining moment in that year? There were too many. I could discuss what we call ‘highlights’, such as Maryanne and Laura’s trip to the UK and our awesome adventures. I could talk about my trips to Oxford and Northern Ireland. I could talk about the trips I had home for Maryanne’s graduation and later on my repatriation to the United States. I could recount the beyond awesome times I have had at home in Florida with Dad and Mom and Maryanne and Laura…all the ice cream we consumed and the Jack Bauer we enjoyed!! I could discuss the countless conversations I had with my dear friends. Sweet nights with John in the Calsayseat flat. Watching movies with people at Union Square – I think Les Mis was probably the highlight movie event of this past year! Coffee mornings with friends at Books and Beans. Now in Texas, coffee mornings with friends at Beans! I could talk about evenings drinking tea and chatting about life with so many dear dear friends(John, Ruth, Zara – did we not have some awesome nights together??). I could mention the remarkably awesome evenings I had with Chris and Jo(and oh do I miss our times together!!)…sadly no more playing Tomb Raider with Chris and no more watching Lord of the Rings and no more driving home from Gilc wednesday nights together. I could talk about the sweet birthday brunch I had with Ruth and Zara and John and Alec and Pip and Chris and Jo…best birthday ever!!! I could dwell on Gilc and the most wonderful worship that went on there every single week. I could think on all the friends at Gilc who I spent time with and encouraged and was encouraged by. I could think of the sweet times I had with Rosemary and April at their flat, eating scrumptious food and watching quality TV(Sherlock is playing today in the UK and I am missing it!!). I could talk about the breakfasts I shared with Graham and Joel and Ben…praying and talking together. I could discuss the beyond-awesome times me and Graham spent, just talking about life. And I could discuss so so much more. But truly, rather than spill even more virtual ink, just know that God has blessed this past year. And although I have talked mostly about Aberdeen and Scotland and my friends contained therein, my thanks to God for this year also extends to the Houston portion! I have become part of a special fellowship here, and I am oh so thankful to God for leading me to Bethel. My community group is a most wonderful group of brothers and sisters and I am ever so grateful. I greatly look forward to the coming days and weeks and months of getting to know them even better! I can’t wait to see what God will do this year.

And now, I’ve noticed I have created a rather awkward paragraph above, but I will let it stand in all its glory. I realise it may be a bit unwieldy to read. My apologies. I apparently cannot properly structure year-end posts! But this post is already far too long, so let me it end it quickly. You have read some of my thoughts on this past year. You have seen how God has blessed me. Know this – I am ever so thankful to Him for all He has done. Sometimes it is so easy to forget the blessings we are given when we are in the middle of a rough and exhausting day. Sometimes the storms and fog of the present troubles are all we see and we cease to gaze upon the majesty of Jesus Christ and we cease to dwell on His glory. And our world becomes small and mean indeed. But then should we stop gazing inward upon ourselves and our pleasures and our fears. Then should we turn to the most sacred Word of God and marvel at the words contained therein. Then should we turn in prayer to the Almighty God. Then should we think upon the glories of Christ. And then our heart burns in adoration and fiercest love for Jehovah God.

Be still, my friends – and think upon all God has done for us.

Happy New Year, my dear friends!! I am now off to do some shopping and try to decide upon the dinner menu for tonight! I wish I could watch some of the Outback Bowl(Iowa-LSU – currently wearing my Hawkeyes shirt!!), but no TV. Ah well. Michigan St. plays Stanford in the Rose Bowl, and I won’t be able to see that either. Alas – guess I’ll just have to get my updates from Dad!!

Incorruptible love

James HoganLeave a comment

And now as I slowly recover from being weirdly ill, I thought I shall write a post I’ve been meaning to a while, but never gotten around to…any of you remember my “TOP FIVE ALBUMS OF ALL TIME” post a couple years back? Ok, maybe not. Anyways, thought I’d do an update of that, but instead of qualifying them as my top five music albums EVER, let’s just say they’re my favorites of the moment. And oddly enough(or not so oddly?), these are almost completely different from a couple of years ago. Also, this is heavily influenced by the physical CDs I have available to me here in Aberdeen, since I do most of my musical listening in the car on my way to/from work. So, a touch biased…but still. Anyways, let’s count ’em down, shall we??

5. Nightwish: Century Child
Favorite Tracks: End of All Hope, Slaying the Dreamer, Beauty of the Beast
This was a bit of a tough choice, choosing between this one and Oceanborn, but in the end, there was no way I could leave Century Child off my top five list! So many seriously epic and beautiful songs. In case you haven’t been introduced to Nightwish before, check some of their songs out on youtube right now. Orchestral operatic power metal. Convinced? You should be. Tarja’s voice combined with Tuomas’ gorgeous song-writing skillz…yeah, tough to top. This whole album is just beautiful. Emotion bleeding through the notes and raging through the heights. I’m not always in a Nightwish mood, but when I am, this is my go-to. Some of these songs are even better live(Say, End of all Hope and Slaying the Dreamer – go look them up on youtube to see what I mean).

4. Snow Patrol: Eyes Open
Favorite Tracks: Open Your Eyes, Set the Fire to the Third Bar, Chasing Cars
Oh Snow Patrol. Loveliness. This is one of those odd albums that I’ve had on my computer since…2005? And yet I didn’t fully appreciate Snow Patrol until last year. Or was it summer of ’09? Anyways, I’ve always liked Snow Patrol and was happy whenever I heard “Chasing Cars” on the radio…yet when I heard their “Open Your Eyes” driving in Houston sometime during the summer…oh amazing. And ever since then, that song has been intertwined with so many amazing memories. And as I’ve listened to the album more since then, more songs have started revealing their beauty to me, like “Set the Fire to the Third Bar” and “It’s Beginning to Get to Me”. So yeah, there’s no way this album doesn’t make top five with so many emotion-wringing songs. Again, I can’t listen to Snow Patrol all the time, but when I’m in the mood, oh bliss. They also make the list of being one of the few bands I’d love to see live…maybe someday.

3. Enfield Hymn Sessions: Resolved Music, Vol. 2
Favorite Tracks: Holy, Holy, Holy; Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing; How Firm a Foundation
And here we come to Enfield!! I had a bit of a difficult time deciding which Enfield album to put first(because oh yes, they both make the top five!), but because this one’s a bit more recent and I haven’t quite had as much time to fully fall in love with it, V2 makes the third spot. Anyways, it’s possible(actually likely) that you’ve not heard of Enfield – they’re just a small band that’s played at a few Christian conferences(that I’ve never had the privilege of attending)…but their music is just amazing. I do love classic and gorgeous hymns, and these bands actually keep the traditional melodies, unlike so many other contemporary re-imaginings. And thus the power of the music is kept along with the majesty of the words and the results are…indescribable. I know their style won’t be everybody’s. But their music has touched me more than almost any other ever has. This is definitely mostly due to the glories of the words contained…and of course, when they have some of my favorite all-time songs(like Come Thou Fount and Holy, Holy, Holy), how can they NOT be one of my favs? Listen to them, seriously. If you can’t find them on youtube and really want to listen to them, let me know and I’ll send you a CD. That’s how good they are.

2. Rhapsody: Rain of a Thousand Flames
Favorite Tracks: ALL OF THEM. But specifically, Rain of a Thousand Flames, Queen of the Dark Horizons, The Wizard’s Last Rhymes
Oh Rhapsody! I’ve liked Rhapsody for a while now, ever since late ’08, I believe. But because I try not to be too impulsive, I still don’t yet have all of their albums. Slowly rectifying that(have one yet to buy, planned for this Christmas for a gift to myself!), so I picked up this EP earlier this summer. Only seven songs. But wow, not a bad one in the line-up. Every single one hits hard and hits beautiful. Rhapsody is an Italian power-metal band. That may sound a bit scary, and yes, half the time, you can’t really understand their lyrics. But the music is too beautiful to deny. And this album tops them all. Thus far. I’ve had to exert great self-control to avoid playing this album into the dust. Give it a try – Rain of a Thousand Flames is a sweet short song. Majestic, powerful, lovely. Queen of the Dark Horizons is a beautiful, sweeping epic – clocks in a little under 14 minutes. And The Wizard’s Last Rhymes…mm yes. Apparently the song-writers stole much of the music from the last song from Dvorak’s “New World Symphony”. Maybe that’s partly why I like Rhapsody so much? Their classical influences married with their power style – few can match. And yes, Rhapsody isn’t for everyone. But for me, oh yes. Also, almost perfect driving music. Give ’em a whirl.

1. Enfield Hymn Sessions: Resolved, V1
Favorite Tracks: Again…ALL OF THEM. Especially And Can it Be?, Our Great God, There is a Fountain; Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken; O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus, Be Thou My Vision…oh and ALL OF THEM.
Yeah, here we come to number 1. Enfield, yep. I’ve already introduced them, but this is the first album of theirs I’ve heard, and the more I hear, the more I love. The more I love, the more my love for our most glorious Lord increases!! Of course, music shouldn’t be the sole inspiration for our love, but if the music we listen to *isn’t* increasing our love for Jesus, then we should tread carefully. Anyways, before I go totally off tangent…this album has some of the most gorgeous songs EVER. Also, to state another reason I like Enfield so much…unlike some modern hymns that are put out by Christian bands, Enfield doesn’t cut off a hymn after only three verses. They take on all five(or six!) verses of songs and avoid cutting short the beauty! And Can it Be? was definitely my first favorite(possibly because it’s also one of my favorite songs of all time), but the more I’ve listened, the rest of the songs have jumped out at me as well. Our Great God. Beautiful(and also intertwined forever with certain memories of amazing friends). Jesus, I my Cross Have Taken. Gorgeous. Wistful. Lovely. Profound. O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus. AMAZING ahhhhh. Yeah, pretty much all of these songs are awesome. Listen. Rejoice. Praise. Worship. Bow down. And again, if you want to listen to these songs and are too lazy to look them up online, message me and I’ll mail you a CD. Seriously awesome. In the truest sense of the word.

And this post has become far too long…and I’m sensing serious hunger pains as I haven’t eaten in far too long. Probably not helping my low state of health at the moment! So time to hunt some food.

Peace, y’all.

2010 In Review

James HoganLeave a comment

So it’s a beautiful Sunday night here in Aberdeen, almost 9:30, and I really should be going to bed…but the writing urge is on me. Sadly, my muse is not cooperating. Punk muse. Anyways, today was rather awesome, even though I spent most of it at home(I feel a creeping sickness coming on…nooo!). I did go to the morning service at church – my first time at Gilc in about 3 weeks! So it was great seeing everyone again and finding out how everyone’s Christmases were…and then I found out my pastor is starting two new sermon series this year – Romans in the morning, Jeremiah at night. EPIC. Two of my fav books – I can’t wait!! So excited that I think I may read Romans tonight before going to bed…not that that will help me get to sleep any sooner. Nah, sleep is so unnecessary.

Also, since apparently I can’t come up with anything original to write(I’ll probably get some inspiration as I’m drifting off to sleep of course), I thought I’d do a year in review:


1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
Lived in another country! Scotland w00t!!

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions for 2010? Will you make more for 2011?
Well, I don’t really make resolutions, so no. Will I make any for 2011? Nope.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
DREAM MARIE AND DAVID. WHAT!!!?!?! Baby Gloria is just made of awesome and it makes me sosososo happy I finally got to see her this past Christmas. YES.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, but this question is still quite sobering…knowing how many people die…by the minute…

5. What countries did you visit?
Scotland, obviously. England and Holland, if airports/train stations counted. I don’t think they do, so I won’t count them. Hopefully France(maybe Italy too!) will get visited in the next few months…

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Seeing certain people…whom I haven’t seen ALL YEAR. Namely, Rob G. Among others. There’s quite a few people I haven’t seen all year and that is just wrong.

7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Mmm…so many days are memorable, but I can’t think of one single day that stands out above all others. God is good every day. That’s my answer and I’m sticking to it. Any singular moments that stand out in my memory are going to stay with me alone – don’t think I share every intimate detail of my life on here! (Sorry to disappoint)

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Achievement? Of my doing? Well, I can’t really credit myself…but just seeking after my Lord and Father’s face more and more every day…I consider that an achievement.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I am a man of many failures.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Got sick a few times…nothing too bad though!

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Hmm, I don’t buy much, but I guess I’ll say my camera(Canon Powershot) after breaking my old one in a tragic accident on Enchanted Rock about 6 months ago…

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
This is such a weird question and I don’t get it. Everyone’s? I’ll just pick someone out at random…Laura my sister – whose domination in school continues. I swear, I think she’s a harder worker than I ever was; her work ethic puts me to shame. She’s about to graduate from Gaither this year!!

13. Whose behavior made you mad and ill-willed?
Another odd question. I’ll just be boring and say Congress. I don’t like to get political, but they really do a lot of silly things and the rampant corruption and self-serving by the members of the US Congress is a bit depressing. But then I look at the governments of much of the rest of the world and in comparison we look pretty ok…which is scary.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Food? Actually scratch that. Probably rent. Oh yeah and MY CAR. Aeryn took up a lot of my money the first half of this year…*shakes head sadly*

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going home to see my family this Christmas!!! Oh and coming over here to Scotland. Yeah, that was pretty big.

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Hm, this is always a tricky question. For some reason the answer’s always a pop song. That’s a bit worrisome. Anyways, the answer(after a moment of reflection) is Alejandro by Lady Gaga. Shh, don’t judge, yo. Or actually, judge all you want. But I don’t care. I’m sure there are other songs that will remind me of 2010…but the year’s barely over, so hard to tell.

Oh and going to add on to this one real quick. Just listening to “Open Your Eyes” by Snow Patrol right now…and that definitely will remain a 2010 song(no matter when it came out). I’ll always remember listening to it driving through Houston crazy traffic as the sun sets behind me…

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
1. Happier or sadder?: Happier? Yes. Every year has always been better than the year before so…
2. Thinner or fatter?: The same? I don’t know – I haven’t weighed myself in ages.
3. Richer or poorer?: Richer, I suppose. Working for a year will do that.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Write. Oh that would be a good resolution(If I made resolutions, which I don’t. So never mind). I do so need to write more but my discipline at forcing myself to write is really quite non-existent. I’d love to start writing an actual long work of some kind…but to write a couple short stories/essays would be a start. Alas, it seems poetry is my only outlet of late. And that rare.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Wow, not sure how to answer this. Waste time on the Internet? Probably that’s it. Eek, sorta scary.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
At home with the fam, relaxing, eating awesome food, playing ping-pong…watching ’24’…actually why am I re-summarizing this. I wrote an entry on this a few days ago, so go read that.

21. How will you be spending New Year’s Eve?
Well, I already spent it..but I spent the first part of it at work(sadly) but spent the rest traveling to the Isle of Man and spending an epic weekend with the Ripamonti family there!! New Year’s Eve, I got in to the airport about 8PM. Robbie picked me up and took me straight to his house, where there was a party going on…so I got to meet lots of people I didn’t know and have good conversations…and watch the clock wind down to midnight where we all celebrated! Five hours ahead of most of you(or six if you’re in Texas…or…well, calculate it yourself if you’re somewhere else), so hah!

22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Whoa, whoa…what is this personal question doing here! I refuse to answer this on principle.

Hah, but no, no falling in love for me. Not yet.

23. How many one-night stands?
HEY. This is way too personal. And besides, if I said none, would you believe me? Well, you’ll have to take my word for it. No one-night stands for me.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
LOST finished this year!! So I guess I’ll say LOST. Also, got into 24, which is also pretty intense.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Um, no? I don’t like hating people, in general. It’s not fun.

26. What was the best book you read?
Oooh, tough. Best new book, or old one? (I reread lots of books) Best overall might be the Life of Jonathan Edwards, by Iain Murray. I just love that book…read it for the second time earlier this year. Best new book? Possibly the Towers of Midnight, penultimate book of Wheel of Time series. It was EPIC.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Lecrae? Well, I didn’t technically discover Lecrae this year(David introduced me to him a while back), but I didn’t fully appreciate and love him until this year. His older album(Rebel) has been my favorite walking-in-Aberdeen music these last few months…

28. What did you want and got?
For what? Christmas? I’ll pretend that’s what the question is asking. And I asked for clothes, “Contributions to the James-sometimes-looking-cool Fund”…and I got an awesome sweater vest(from the parents), a sweet blazer shirt(from Katharyn) and…a kilt. From(who else) all my sisters.

29. What did you want and not get?
Again, I’ll take it this is Christmas. Anyways, I wanted a Church History book. Didn’t get that, so guess I’ll have to buy it as a present from myself!

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
New film? Inception! A remarkable film in that it was a big Hollywood film and hugely hyped…and it actually delivered. And it is currently in my possession. Great, great movie.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Spent time with some of my awesome Htown friends(after working) at my apartment, eating yummy food, drinking coffee, having sweet conversations… Glorious evening…I miss y’all, Htown friends…you know who you are.

32. What’s one thing would have made 2010 immeasurably more satisfying?
I can’t think of anything. Honest. 2010 was a good year.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Same old? I don’t know what my personal fashion concept even is. Anyone care to enlighten me?

34. What kept you sane?
Finally an easy one!! My Lord and Saviour, Father and King, God of the Universe, Jesus Christ.

35. Which celebrity did you fancy the most?
Hmmm…I don’t really have any celeb crushes at the moment. Sorry to disappoint! Is there anyone I *should* be fancying?

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Hmm, this is a dangerous question…so I’ll just be political and say: “No comment.”

37. Who did you miss?
LOTS OF PEOPLE. Too many to name. Far too many. If you’re reading this and aren’t in Aberdeen(or maybe even if you are!), you’re probably one of them. My family of course…Rob G, Laurie, Deanna…all my Gville friends…David and Dream…all my Tampa friends! Will and Alex…and all my Htown friends…and if you didn’t get named, don’t feel bad – blame it on my sleepiness!! I do truly miss you all. Well, unless you’re a random person I don’t know who’s reading this. Then of course I don’t miss you.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Oh gosh…this is a tough one. I guess I had already met most of my Houston friends in 2009, so I can’t name any of you guys. So that means it would be a Scotland person…well, I guess if you take talking-time as quality of friendship, Aiysha would win that lottery! We’ve had some epic conversations and sweet times together!! Sadly, I haven’t seen her in about 3 weeks…But yeah, she’s pretty awesome(*waves to Aiysha* SERIOUSLY, we must hang out soon!!). ALSO, meeting most of the Ripamontis for the first time!! Me and Robbie had some sweet times together this past weekend on the Isle of Man…a New Year’s never to forget. Technically, I met Robbie on New Year’s Eve, so that counts for 2010, right??

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
Just one? Well, I think I already knew this, but it was further reinforced in 2010: having guy friends is pretty awesome. And now that I’m currently in a far-away land from many of my good friends(specifically thinking of a few of you in Houston…), I think how blessed I was to have some sweet man-friendships in 2010. Ladies, don’t get me wrong…I love you and all…but guy friends are just…different from girls. And having fellow men and brothers whom I can share everything with and pray in sweet communion to our Jesus with…that’s just awesome. And I miss it a bit now.

40. Quote or Song Lyric that sums up your year:
I have become a marvel
to many, for You are my
strong refuge.
My mouth is filled with
Your praise
and with
Your glory
all day long.
-Psalm 71:7-8

And that pretty much sums it up. A MUCH longer survey than I anticipated! All I will say further is something I think I’ve said every year now for the past few years…once again, God has blessed me exceedingly. And I know that this year, 2011, He will bless me still. Whether I am in times of great bounty or times of tribulation, I will always love my Lord. He is good. And He is God.