Autumn is a lovely season. Things start to get a little colder and you might start getting the sniffles. You drive down the road and see leaves changing colors and all the while you have the holidays to look forward to, time with family and friends. Autumn is a time of year when I love most to have a good cd mix in my car, full of songs that make my heart swell with love for my Savior. Once upon a time I would send out cd mixes to all my friends, which certainly was an investment in padded envelopes and stamps, but in the end was well worth it. So after making some mediocre cd mixes over the past couple years, I finally have made one that I want to share with all you and I certainly hope blesses you during these beautiful autumn months.
Now you might be sitting in your chair right now thinking, "Man, I think I might want to get this cd." Many of you I will be contacting to get your mailing addresses but as is always the case, some people slip through cracks of my rapidly aging mind. If you want to make sure I don't forget about you, please send me a message on facebook or email me or whatever you do and let me know your mailing address.
The song I wrote out on the previous post, 'Come You Saints' is actually a preview of a cd mix that is in the test drive mode and is set to release in winter of 2007. These two cds will be leading up to my "multi-month deployment on my ship extravaganza" which will involve me going out on my ship for 4 to 6 months and floating around in the ocean. There will no birds chirping and flowers sprouting up. Summer will come and go with the wind. My life will be lost in the sleepy lull of the ocean waves as they pass by my ship. Until I am lost in this oblivion, I will be driving, listening to music, praising God as he is displayed in his creation, and thinking of all of you. I hope to hear from you guys and I hope the cds make the coming months all the more special :)
Friday, September 29, 2006
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Come You Saints
Come you saints lift up your heads
To find the hand of grace
Has carried you from Satan's grasp
And brought you to this place
Where all designs of flesh will fail
And still His grace remain
For purposing His own good will
The Lord has come to save
Come you saints to hear the voice
That sings from Calvary
The song that drew our wayward hearts
And brought us to believe
It's grace the glorious Savior's song
He paid so dear to sing
The words He cries 'forgive, forgive'
Hold power to redeem
When the days of toil end
And comes our glorious King
All sin removed, our eyes behold
The Lamb in majesty
Then great will be their Christian song
The loudest there will be
An endless praise in sweet refrain
Of God's redeeming grace
:)
To find the hand of grace
Has carried you from Satan's grasp
And brought you to this place
Where all designs of flesh will fail
And still His grace remain
For purposing His own good will
The Lord has come to save
Come you saints to hear the voice
That sings from Calvary
The song that drew our wayward hearts
And brought us to believe
It's grace the glorious Savior's song
He paid so dear to sing
The words He cries 'forgive, forgive'
Hold power to redeem
When the days of toil end
And comes our glorious King
All sin removed, our eyes behold
The Lamb in majesty
Then great will be their Christian song
The loudest there will be
An endless praise in sweet refrain
Of God's redeeming grace
:)
Monday, September 25, 2006
Remains of the Night
So I woke up this morning with thoughts on my mind other than Jesus. Not necessarily a surprise but this morning it was particularly revealing. The night before I had felt close to Jesus and I began wondering in the morning whether or not the idolatrous thoughts now on my mind had only but been in hiding the night before. I have a funny feeling that they were.
In a way, mornings like this can be helpful in that they show very clearly what needs to be purged from my life. And the start to this purging is inviting Jesus to be the center of my day and to rekindle my heart's affection for him. That's how today has started off. Throughout the day already though, I can feel my heart as it is so easily seduced. So Lord, please captivate my heart that you may command its full affection. May other thoughts, both big and small in my mind, sink away in light of you as you sit on the throne of my life.
In a way, mornings like this can be helpful in that they show very clearly what needs to be purged from my life. And the start to this purging is inviting Jesus to be the center of my day and to rekindle my heart's affection for him. That's how today has started off. Throughout the day already though, I can feel my heart as it is so easily seduced. So Lord, please captivate my heart that you may command its full affection. May other thoughts, both big and small in my mind, sink away in light of you as you sit on the throne of my life.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Your Hands Are Cold
Ah yes...the line at the end of 'Pride and Prejudice' spoken by Elizabeth to Mr. Darcy.
My friend Katy thinks that this line is really dumb and random. I always felt inclined to defend the line even before I really understood it. I thought before that Elizabeth really didn't know what to say and that's all she could think of; something simple that showed she cared about him, maybe. Watching it recently though I kept noticing how the movie focused on Darcy's hand.
First, when he helps Elizabeth into the carriage near the beginning of the movie, you see a close-up afterwards of his hand quivering. The second time, I forget exactly where it is but I remember another close-up of his hand towards the end of the movie when he and Elizabeth keep running into each other. Then finally at the end of the movie when Elizabeth and Darcy are in the field and Darcy says, You have bewtiched me body and soul. Elizabeth takes his hand and stares down at it and says, Your hands are cold. The whole movie, Darcy's hands have been focused on and no doubt they are numb and cold and he is wondering at this strange new feeling of warmth that is making his hands quiver. After Elizabeth reaches out and tells him, Your hands are cold, the camera focused in on her hand on his and just over the hands the sun is shining, no doubt warming both of their hands.
Not random at all. Beautiful:)
My friend Katy thinks that this line is really dumb and random. I always felt inclined to defend the line even before I really understood it. I thought before that Elizabeth really didn't know what to say and that's all she could think of; something simple that showed she cared about him, maybe. Watching it recently though I kept noticing how the movie focused on Darcy's hand.
First, when he helps Elizabeth into the carriage near the beginning of the movie, you see a close-up afterwards of his hand quivering. The second time, I forget exactly where it is but I remember another close-up of his hand towards the end of the movie when he and Elizabeth keep running into each other. Then finally at the end of the movie when Elizabeth and Darcy are in the field and Darcy says, You have bewtiched me body and soul. Elizabeth takes his hand and stares down at it and says, Your hands are cold. The whole movie, Darcy's hands have been focused on and no doubt they are numb and cold and he is wondering at this strange new feeling of warmth that is making his hands quiver. After Elizabeth reaches out and tells him, Your hands are cold, the camera focused in on her hand on his and just over the hands the sun is shining, no doubt warming both of their hands.
Not random at all. Beautiful:)
Pride and Prejudice
What a simply beautiful movie. I was watching the version with Keira Knightley and it has become on of my favorite movies now. It easily in my top 3. I had seen the movie a few times before but still found myself coming to tears when I saw it again recently. Maybe this is because I am at the same point in my life as Darcy and relate so deeply with Darcy's cold and lonely hands that need someone to provide warmth.
I always cry when Elizabeth walks in on Georgiana playing the piano and Darcy is standing there watching his sister. Finally the walls that stood so high between Darcy and Elizabeth are crumbling and their hearts are reaching out to make contact. Georgiana is so beautiful and innocent as she plays the piano. Darcy is so admiring as he watches her. Elizabeth is so vulnerable as she walks in. Georgiana's loving and playful greeting is like a sweet salve to Elizabeth's exposed heart.
I can't help but cry the rest of the movie in and out. It is much the same feeling I describe in the progressive journal I sent to my friend, Virginia. It is the feeling of winter turning to spring and how beautiful are the first breaths of fresh spring air as the sun makes your skin tingle with new warmth. Somehow watching the movie, I can't help but feel that my Savior and Lord is behind it all. Only he could have imagined such feelings as there are between his creatures as they love each other. Truly how beatiful are his thoughts toward us.
I always cry when Elizabeth walks in on Georgiana playing the piano and Darcy is standing there watching his sister. Finally the walls that stood so high between Darcy and Elizabeth are crumbling and their hearts are reaching out to make contact. Georgiana is so beautiful and innocent as she plays the piano. Darcy is so admiring as he watches her. Elizabeth is so vulnerable as she walks in. Georgiana's loving and playful greeting is like a sweet salve to Elizabeth's exposed heart.
I can't help but cry the rest of the movie in and out. It is much the same feeling I describe in the progressive journal I sent to my friend, Virginia. It is the feeling of winter turning to spring and how beautiful are the first breaths of fresh spring air as the sun makes your skin tingle with new warmth. Somehow watching the movie, I can't help but feel that my Savior and Lord is behind it all. Only he could have imagined such feelings as there are between his creatures as they love each other. Truly how beatiful are his thoughts toward us.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
A Dark Night
There is no one to talk to. It is the evening. I have thoughts of past times with friends. Oh, how wonderful it was just to be driving at night with Gus sleeping in the passenger seat next to me. Silence except for the sound of the car. Darkness except for small lights, some that are red, some that are white, some that move, some that stand still. Now it is evening and I sit alone on my ship, feelings gaps in my soul. Accusations haunt me but I cling to my Savior.
O God! Be my defender! Be my Rock, my Fortress, my Strong Tower!
The music that plays in my mind is from the end of 'The Fellowship of the Ring'. It reminds me of when the fellowship was broken and Boromir had just died. It is the feeling of having to move on without someone you love. It is a spiritual pain, one that Jesus surely felt.
How great the pain of searing loss
the Father turns his face away
As wounds which mar the chosen one
bring many sons to glory.
What I love about that line is it tells of great loss but ends with great hope. I always cry at the end of 'The Fellowship of the Ring' because I know that feeling. The feeling of not wanting to move on but knowing you have to. And yet I love when Sam comes running and refuses to leave Frodo. A dark night is ahead but Frodo has a faithful friend.
Jesus, be my friend in this dark night. Hear my cry and be with my lonely heart.
O God! Be my defender! Be my Rock, my Fortress, my Strong Tower!
The music that plays in my mind is from the end of 'The Fellowship of the Ring'. It reminds me of when the fellowship was broken and Boromir had just died. It is the feeling of having to move on without someone you love. It is a spiritual pain, one that Jesus surely felt.
How great the pain of searing loss
the Father turns his face away
As wounds which mar the chosen one
bring many sons to glory.
What I love about that line is it tells of great loss but ends with great hope. I always cry at the end of 'The Fellowship of the Ring' because I know that feeling. The feeling of not wanting to move on but knowing you have to. And yet I love when Sam comes running and refuses to leave Frodo. A dark night is ahead but Frodo has a faithful friend.
Jesus, be my friend in this dark night. Hear my cry and be with my lonely heart.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Journaling Once More
I have been journaling quite a bit since I stopped writing here. Actually, more than I have in my entire life. And it is totally changing my life let me tell you. I've decided to beginning writing new posts here again though they will all by selected writings from my personal journal.
Journaling is doing amazing things for my life with God. I think maybe this is because our lives are stories and sometimes we forget that. I mean, for most of us, if our life was to be made into a story, it would not have much of a plot. We have certain revelations and are confronted with many major life lessons time after time but we rarely change very much. We don't have an all-consuming vision that gives a plot and purpose to our lives. So the reason journaling is really changing my life is because it is a constant and daily reminder to myself that my life is a story and that it matters. It matters what decisions I make. It matters whether the lessons I am confronted with actually take root in my life. A journal keeps one from forgetting.
And it seems being a Christian is all about remembering. This is an idea that I heard from my friend Gus. I'm not sure if he thought it up or whether he heard it from someone else but it is a very central idea that runs very deep in our lives. Before the Lord's Supper, Christ said, "Do this in remembrance of me." Remember. How often do we forget though. That missions trip we took. That one time in church where we sang all those songs and cried out from our hearts to God. We didn't remember that a month later when we made out with a girl, or masturbated, or began going through whole days with all but brief thoughts of our Savior.
Journaling hasn't become something for me that is all about how I'm growing as a Christian or appearing to do so. It's become to me more about remembering. Remembering what God has done. Remembering what I have done, good and bad. Eventually I hope it becomes more about what God is doing in me. If you are thinking about starting up a journal, do it to remember. Our lives are stories and they do matter. May our journals becomes places where we are able to watch our stories unfold, become purposeful, and may they always come back to the cross. May they always point to our sin and then to our Savior who who covers them.
Journaling is doing amazing things for my life with God. I think maybe this is because our lives are stories and sometimes we forget that. I mean, for most of us, if our life was to be made into a story, it would not have much of a plot. We have certain revelations and are confronted with many major life lessons time after time but we rarely change very much. We don't have an all-consuming vision that gives a plot and purpose to our lives. So the reason journaling is really changing my life is because it is a constant and daily reminder to myself that my life is a story and that it matters. It matters what decisions I make. It matters whether the lessons I am confronted with actually take root in my life. A journal keeps one from forgetting.
And it seems being a Christian is all about remembering. This is an idea that I heard from my friend Gus. I'm not sure if he thought it up or whether he heard it from someone else but it is a very central idea that runs very deep in our lives. Before the Lord's Supper, Christ said, "Do this in remembrance of me." Remember. How often do we forget though. That missions trip we took. That one time in church where we sang all those songs and cried out from our hearts to God. We didn't remember that a month later when we made out with a girl, or masturbated, or began going through whole days with all but brief thoughts of our Savior.
Journaling hasn't become something for me that is all about how I'm growing as a Christian or appearing to do so. It's become to me more about remembering. Remembering what God has done. Remembering what I have done, good and bad. Eventually I hope it becomes more about what God is doing in me. If you are thinking about starting up a journal, do it to remember. Our lives are stories and they do matter. May our journals becomes places where we are able to watch our stories unfold, become purposeful, and may they always come back to the cross. May they always point to our sin and then to our Savior who who covers them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)