The Not-so-black Friday

[Written on Friday]

I'm sitting here, a cup of hot chocolate in hand, trying to put words to this day.

Outside, the night is chilly and crystal-clear. The moon is full and the Vermilion River running just outside is reflecting its light. Gorgeous. Reminds me a little of when I'd look out of our window in Madang after dark and see a path of light on the water leading to the moon set just above the horizon. God's creation is spectacular.

About an hour ago, I got out of the Jacuzzi, thoroughly relaxed (although the beginning wasn't very relaxing, admittedly – when I first turned on the jets, water sprayed all over the room and chaos ensued… oops).

I took a twenty minute nap just before dinner.

This afternoon, I discovered two hidden pockets in my flannel. Ok, so you might not appreciate it… but, c'mon… it's like having a brand new flannel! (Not quite, but work with me here :D )

I had fresh pineapple. Can I tell you how much I like fresh pineapple?! Oh, man. One of God's greatest gifts to man. But don't try to eat a whole fresh pineapple in one go, as I attempted to do back in Alotau. The acid wore my whole mouth raw, where it hurt doing almost anything. It stopped me from eating any acidic fruit, but not for very long… Mmm.. Pineapple.

I finished up my critical review on Martin Luther King, Jr. on Leadership, written by Donald T. Phillips. What an impressive man. I should write about him sometime – write something other than a paper, I mean.

The day got bright and sunny while eating a breakfast of sausage and pancakes this morning.

I was able to buy presents (and a few things for myself) this morning at Staples, where my sister and I went just before 6am.

This day has been a lot of things, but black is not definitely not one of them.

I'm even going to start reading about civil religion and Dietrich Bonheoffer in a little while. That should be very interesting, indeed.

Good night, gentlemen and ladies.

"I need Thee every hour / Stay Thou nearby / Temptations lose their pow'r / When Thou art nigh // I need Thee, oh I need Thee / Every hour I need Thee / I need Thee, I need Thee / I need Thee every hour"

God loves you.

Soli Deo Gloria.

If I Stand

There's more that rises in the morning than the sun
And more that shines in the night than just the moon
There's more than just this fire here that keeps me warm
In a shelter that is larger than this room

And there's a loyalty that's deeper than mere sentiment
And a music higher than the songs that I can sing
Stuff of Earth competes for the allegiance
I owe only to the Giver of all good things

So if I stand, let me stand on the promise that you will pull me through
And if I can't, let me fall on the grace that first brought me to you
So if I sing, let me sing for the joy that has born in me these songs
And if I weep, let it be as a man who is longing for his home

There's more that dances on the prairies than the wind
And more that pulses in the ocean than the tide
There's a love that's fiercer than the love between friends
More gentle than a mother's when her baby's at her side

And there's a loyalty that's deeper than mere sentiment
And a music higher than the songs that I can sing
The stuff of Earth competes for the allegiance
I owe only to the Giver of all good things

So if I stand, let me stand on the promise that You will pull me through
And if I can't, let me fall on the grace that first brought me to You
And if I sing let me sing for the joy that has born in me these songs
And if I weep, let it be as a man who is longing for his home

So if I stand, let me stand on the promise You will pull me through
And if I can't, let me fall on the grace that first brought me to You
And if I sing, let me sing for the joy that has born in me these songs
And if I weep, let it be as a man who is longing for his home

And if I weep, let it be as a man who is longing for home.


"If I Stand," by Rich Mullins (as performed by Jars of Clay)

Oh, that I could find a title for my first post

I just really feel like writing, but not into a vacuum. So last night, I created a blog. And tonight, I post for the first time. But about what?

I am not sure. But not for a lack of topics - certainly not. I do not know what to write for an excess of topics.

God has been teaching me much; yet, I often find myself confused.

There is so much to existence as we experience it. So much to be seen, so much to be heard. In the midst of the seeming chaos which floods our lives, there is this undying yearning for order. For purpose in the strife. For love amidst the brokenness. For consistency. For trust. For right. For courage. For life. For coherence. For truth. For eternity. For home.

I'm finding it in the person of Jesus Christ and his cross. It bridges the gap of being and being. It reconciles the reality with the desire. It reconciles us with our Maker.

I'm not really sure where I'm going with this. But I'm going to just go to bed. Someday, I'll post again. Don't expect it to be much more than this. But perhaps it will.

God loves you.

Soli Deo Gloria.