Weblog
Sunday, 15 June 2008
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Stayin' Alive
Xanga told me they were about to close me down unless I posted. So, here I post to keep the site alive. I still use my blogspot though. http://in-this-tent.blogspot.com :). Have a good one folks!
Wednesday, 21 November 2007
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Alas, farewell, my xanga page
Howdy folks,
I have to admit, I've moved my blogging elsewhere. I don't blog much anymore-- so far I'm averaging about 5 times a year. It has been a place for my private thoughts which, to be honest, belong more in the public conversational domain than most of my "public" thoughts here.
Largely, I kept these private because I actually said something. I expressed my convictions about things that matter-- like holiness, honesty and the nature of our man-made and deceptive outreaches. I believe I am right in what I said. I didn't want to share because I was largely a coward too (I still have my moments now).
I still get the feed in my email when some of you post-- and I really enjoy hearing about your lives. I'm going to keep this account open so I can communicate wth you all and hear from you from time to time.
My new page is:
http://in-this-tent.blogspot.com
I hope you all are doing well. I really wish I could see you all face to face. But, until then, happy blogging to you.
His,
A.j.
Tuesday, 24 July 2007
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Currently Reading
Oliver Twist (Penguin Classics)
By Charles Dickens, Philip Horne
see relatedTriathlon
So, I ran one yesterday-- or swam/biked/ran one. Don't what to say really except that it was hard and easy at the same time-- the Lord provides the strength you need when you're stumblin' over yourself. I actually ran it on a whim-- all of it was a whim really. I remember saying I was doing it just to encourage myself to workout. So, I worked out and grew a ridiculous goat-tee or however you spell it. I've affectionately been calling it my "'single but unavailable' goat." I grew it because it made me feel tough-- too tough to give up, too tough to give in, and too tough for lady-folk. Two out of three ain't bad right ;). But anyway, I didn't think I'd run it. I did. Let's run one next year.
No, but seriously, I'm going to Ukraine here in a couple weeks. Lord willing, that is. Don't ask me about details because, honestly, I haven't got 'em. Pray about sending money though--ask about that. Which brings me to my next point.
"For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing, 16And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses,” Therefore you shall flee! “And we will ride on swift horses,” Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift."
That's Isaiah 30-- my random meditation verse for the past little while.
Do you dig what's going on here? I honestly don't know much about the context-- but I think there's enough here to glean something worthwhile. What I'm seeing here is that God is basically saying "Chill dude. Just relax man-- rest, stop what you've been doing and chill., I've got you covered." And, the response...
"GET ON YOUR FRICKIN' HORSE AND RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"
And God says "Alright man, whatever you say chief. But you gotta flee from something-- so here's that something I was going so save you from. Go on and run now."
Immediately thereafter, Isaiah tells us this:
"...Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him."
Honestly don't get the "therefore" yet. But the rest I can understand.
You ever long for anything? Health? Security? Husband? Wife? Passion? Purpose? Do you imagine God having that quality-- longing for something? Longing for something like being gracious to a people and just waiting for that? And look at the assurance-- God is just. Why is he doing it? Well, because that's who he is. There is no ransom, no arm-bending, no politics-- just God being who He is and one facet of that is that He's just.
There's this song I love-- I plan on playing it at my wedding someday (Lord willing) for my wife (also Lord willing-- and kinda implied by the first one). For the first time today, I realized something-- I could just as easily sing this to God. So I did-- and He healed a part of my heart by it. And I'm thankful.
Friday, 08 June 2007
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Today's Rides
I went on two bike rides today. They were really pretty neat.
The first one was down my favorite little bike path in the world. Technically, it's not a bike path. But it's beautiful. It's beautiful like me, though, so it's probably not the beautiful you're thinking of. Its got its greens and its greys if that makes sense. Maybe I can take you out there sometime.
I met a guy named Dave out there. He's a Nam Vet. Flew for the Air Force. Real Neat guy. After his service he was a pilot for a decade, a chiropractor for a decade, rented out houses for a decade and drove trucks for a decade. I guess he could never make up his mind. He's training to ride his trike across the country. When I asked him why he said "Well... I'm 61 years old, I've got the money and I've got the time." Enough said, I guess.
The second ride was just a leisure one-- a "no sweat" ride around the block. I really enjoy my block. The houses are all so different-- some are these awkward little boxes, while others are these coldisaced brick structures, and others look to be camp grounds for elementary school bikers.
My favorite part of the ride, though, were the "dad's home!" moments. There we only two-- and the contrasts and similarities were heart-warming. The first house was a pretty run-down little place. There are tons of "problem" children packed in the house. I've heard that the neighbors don't really care for them. When their dad came home, cigarrete dangling from his mouth, face wrinkled from obvious low-paying hard labor, all the kids dropped their tasks and turned to the car yelling "dad's home!".
The second house was much nicer. The white-picket-fence type. They had a garage, a garden, a basketball hoop, a red-brick facade. There were only two kids at this house, playing quietly in the front yard. However, when the father drove up in his new blue sportswagon, the reaction was the same. They jumped up, toys in hand, and ran to the car to greet their dad, saying also "Daddy's home!".
I think it'd be neet to get a "daddy's home!" of my own some day. It will be even neater, though, to finally go to Daddy's home. If I can take both, I will. If just the later, I will. And I'm thankful that those are my choices.
Monday, 21 May 2007
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Isaiah
"All flesh is grass, and all its lovliness is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
When the breath of the LORD blows upon it;
Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever."
40:6-8
"Like a shepherd He will tend His flock,
In His arm He will gather the lambs
And carry them in His bosom;
He will gently lead the nursing ewes."
40:11
"He it is who reduces rulers to nothing,
Who makes the judges of earth meaningless"
40:23
"He gives strength to the weary,And to him who lacks might He increases power."
40:29
"But you, Israel, My servant,
Jacob whom I have chosen,
Descendant of Abraham My friend,
You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,
And called from its remotest parts
And said to you, 'You are My servant,
I have chosen you and not rejected you.
Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.'"
41:8-10
"The afflicted and needy are seeking water, but there is none,
And their tongue is parched with thirst;
I, the LORD, will answer them myself,
As the God of Israel I will not forsake them."
41:17
These just hit me this morning. Figured I'd share.
I hope you're well.
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