Happy Saturday, friends!! I’m currently in my Starbucks, chilling this fine morning. Burning a few of my latest musical creations to send to the Laura and Caisson…

…and I was about to write a chronicle of many things (and write about the four books I need to log!!) but Katie came in here and we ended up talking for a while so now I have not as much time to write alas! But it was very much worth it, as I’ve not seen Katie for ages, so it was much encouraging having a proper chat with her.

I suppose briefly I shall share about the fun times that were had last night! I’ve lived in Texas going on…six years now (since I moved back from Scotland), and to my shame (not really, since I’ve honestly never cared that much!) I’ve never been to the Houston Rodeo. Well, that has now been remedied as last night was at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. (As is its full proper name) John’s girlfriend Rachel had obtained tickets from someone – and what tickets they were! Five rows from the field, so we could see everything! From bronco-busting to bull-riding to barrel-racing to even mutton-busting (small children riding sheep – it was hilariously awesome!). I much enjoyed watching the cowboys try to stay on top of the horses and bulls…that was taking place pretty much right in front of us, super exciting. I must confess, felt a bit like I was at the gladiatorial games in Rome though…cheering and gasping at every tense moment! The calf-roping was also a highlight. I’m still not a Texan, but I did heartily enjoy every second of the rodeo. Oh and the opening…first there was a prayer(they called it an invocation, but it was totally a prayer and the person giving it asked that Jesus have mercy upon us all. May it be so. Amen) then the arena went dark and a singer sang the national anthem…as a woman rode a horse around the arena holding an American flag. At the end of the anthem, flames and sparks shot out of the flag. Oh America. Oh Texas. Can there be anything more Texas than that? Probably not. Anyway, yeah, what a show. But that wasn’t even all of it! The concert was next and I’ll confess I wasn’t really that excited beforehand. It was this artist Zedd who I had never heard of and knew nothing about. I assumed it was a country act…and honestly I really don’t like country music that much. But it turned out it was totally not country! It was dance music and it was EPIC. I’ve actually been listening to some of the videos that people uploaded to youtube just to enjoy the experience again. Beforehand we’d agreed we’d only stay for the first four songs…and I was glad because I was assuming I wouldn’t like it. But once we did leave (probably after five or six songs), I was sad to not get more! Patricia and Jen and I were rocking out in the stands, dancing to the music and having a grand old time. I totally did not expect a club experience at the rodeo, but that’s what I got. As the five of us left, we were most definitely still in a dancing mood. Danced our way out to the parking lot. Not a bad way to end the evening, says I.

I think Rachel or Jen asked me afterwards what I’d thought of my first rodeo. I replied simply. “Awesome.” I also must thank Patricia for being my most excellent rodeo educator. Sat next to her and she explained all the cowboy things I knew nothing about. She’s been going to the rodeo since before she was five…so you could say she knew what she was talking about. Why did I enjoy it so much? Well, I love seeing powerful, beautiful animals in action. I love seeing talented men and women performing great feats of strength and skill. And I love a good dance party. So yeah, Houston Rodeo 2019. Rock on, my friends.

Now I’m really not in the mood to write too much more. Maybe I can log a book or two though?

19. Miracles by C.S. Lewis. Finished this book about a week ago I think? Reading Lewis is always profitable, and I enjoyed this book of his that I read, with some reservations. He always comes at Christianity from a very philosophical angle, which isn’t always a bad thing, but we also need to be careful that we don’t end up drowning in intellectual probabilities and introspective musings. This book was also interesting because it was most definitely a book that needed to be written to the people of that time. Published in 1947, it seems to address the modernist take on the universe, i.e. there can only be the natural and there is most certainly no room for the supernatural. I could be possibly mistaken on ascribing this to modernist thought, so feel free to correct me. But Lewis is attempting to, with this book, show the rationality and even probability that the supernatural can (and must) affect the natural. There are intrusions from the supernatural (God) upon the world we live and breathe in. Miracles (caused by the supernatural) are possible. Lewis is writing to an audience (liberal Christianity and unbelieving agnostics) that has shuffled away the possibility of the miraculous by saying that all things can be ascribed to natural causes. The miracles that Jesus is said to have done? Those can be explained away. It’s interesting, because I do not feel that the world we live in today approaches the natural/supernatural divide in quite the same way. While we still do worship at the altar of science, I think many have more of an open mind to “the divine” and/or “the supernatural” and/or “the spiritual world”. We agree with the possibility of supernatural beings and forces…although we are not allowed to be dogmatic about the identity and nature of the supernatural being that may or may not exist. If we (as Christians) attempt to state firmly that the God of the Bible is the Divine Being and the Supernatural Cause of all things, we will be scoffed at, surely. But the possibility of a spirit world? Sure, that’s fair game! Just no specifics please. So this book may not be quite as applicable to the modern (or postmodern rather!) reader. I do think it’s still worthwhile though, and I’m glad I read it. Lewis has such a way with words. And the last chapter…on the necessity and beauty of the physical resurrection of Christ? That’s worth the price of admission alone. If you don’t want to read any of the rest of the book, just read the last chapter. It thrilled my heart and warmed my soul.

I’ve written too much now. Don’t feel like writing any more book reviews. So I shall not! Time to go and do some errands and then go out and enjoy the sunlight that is now beginning to filter down to earth. Peace, my friends. Peace and love.