The Daily Wall I’m having trouble finding fodder for my blog. You’ve noticed I’m sure, and don’t really need me to tell you, but it makes me feel better to say it, as though somehow by the speaking it will be abolished revealing new vistas to discourse about. That’s probably why Lileks does it so often. It isn’t like we need to be told every day that he’s got a hundred columns to write, and that the bleat will not be edited. Does he ever edit it? It isn’t like we care or don’t know that he’s going to write…

The cold air wasn’t a nuisance. The pounding of his feet on the broken cement of the sidewalk echoed in his ears, sweat slowly beading on his forehead, then evaporating as the cool air rushed by. He could feel that odd equilibrium where his body’s internal heat met the air outside. That feeling of being warm and cool at the same time. He took a deeper brath, and turned his thoughts to something else, anything else but the pounding of his feet on the pavement, and the distance he had left to go. As long as he didn’t consider how…

When I was little… I was Hammie… That third pane.. yeah… oh yeah…

I got it in my head to jog last night. I was sitting at my computer, feeling a bit antsy, and the evening was really nice, about 65-60 degrees, gentle breeze, perfect. So I took off. I ran considerably farther than I thought I would, and the farthest I’ve ever run. I thought you might like to know my route… you know.. just because… (Imagery compliments of the USGS)

Over the past few weeks, I have been observing the way circumstances will converge to create moments that seems especially poignant. When a phrase caught from the middle of a conversation adds special value to an observed scene while walking, or driving past a bluff as the sunlight first hits the golden hues of Autumn, and you are reminded of the great depth of God’s mercies, and how often we rely on them.

Recent Song selections for church, the Evening Service: Thy Word Have I Hid in my Heart Be Thou My Vision Teach Me Thy Way O Lord The Bible Stands Standing On The Promises

People aren’t given over to lyrical and whimsical poetic response often enough. Goodness know I don’t. My thoughts are a bit scattered, so I offer you scattered bits of poetry unfinished, and welcome you to do what your fancy bids with them. in small moments i sit in my bedroom window thinking about how the world is so small how in the matter of a single still moment the choice that you make could alter it all what if while praying in the garden that night Jesus had spoken My will and not Thine had He refused to give up…

More About Fear This is the continuation of the essay started below. Forgive the poor composition. I don’t have time to think through it more thoroughly. Comments are welcome, spelling, grammer corrections, also welcome. Fear is an emotion that feeds off the intesity of our desires, and is dependant of how much and who or what we trust. When the disciples ran to Christ on the ship, they were afraid because they valued their lives and did not want to loose it, yet they did not trust Christ to protect them. Fear isn’t intrinsically bad. It is a valuable indicator…

When the disciples found themselves fighting a storm so much bigger than them, on a sea enraged by the screaming wind, they were afraid. They ran to Jesus, who was sleeping peacefully at the bottom of the boat, and woke Him crying out for help.When Peter first put his feet over the edge of the boat and felt the surface of the water hold him, he must have felt a sense of wonder. But when he took his eyes off Jesus he let the overwhelming sense of reality make him afraid and he started to sink.Each day, the world over,…

What Does It Mean to Forgive? During a discussion at the pastors house last sunday, the topic of forgiveness came up. The speaker for our missions conference made the statement that you are only commanded to forgive if the offender repents. Sounds wrong doesn’t it. Try looking it up in scripture. I reference Luke 17:3-4 specifically. I’ve thought about this a bit, and I want to say that he is right. You would want to make this distinction though,and not get caught up in the semantics of the word. He’s not saying you have freedom to get bitter. Forgiveness isn’t…

A Portrait He doesn’t like the idea of folding. Somehow, it means that he has lost, even though to continue on means risking more and more. Its possible it has something to do with pride. Not willing to admit that he has failed, or that his efforts weren’t good enough. It means admitting that you made bad choices early on, that you were ignorant, that you were unprepared. He feels like life is like that sometimes, like a poker game I mean. Each round having to decide if those he plays with are telling the truth, having to hide his…

For all you out there who want to give me a nickel… you know who you are…

New poem, Bind Them Close Fireflies and whippoorwills On summer nights of yesteryear Bring to mind the thoughts so dear Stored away in precious nooks And kept in secret far from sight Till in the evening late at night With gigles and smiles and furtive looks You share with those who mean the most And by your sharing bind them close To the secret places of your heart

Autumn inspires me. No other season has so many reminders for me of God’s and his gloriousness. A new poem, The Wonder of His Might.

Another report from Uganda Dear Friends in Christ, Not much to report. 7 killed north of Soroti near Katakwi by a land mine. Some of our missionary team will be going into Soroti tomorrow to check on things. I will be off line until Saturday. We are trying to negotiate for a place to restart Life Radio in Mbarara while we have to be out of Soroti. People come every day asking when it will be back on the air. We didn’t realize how much of an impact it was having. Pray that we can get the right place and…

New poem, Soft Light, Like Snowflakes is an evening prayer.

A friend of mine recently recieved an email from someone who wanted to get into her email account. He requested she login to yahoo from a new url: mailyahoo.cjb.net, which grabs the username and password and posts it online. I have words for this, that I can’t say.

I’ve written a new poem. Praises for the Harvest is a departure from my normal verse, in that it doesn’t rhyme. The poem is based on a piece written collaboratively by myself, Rhesa, Ash, and Urquhart. The piece was begun by Rhesa and after having gone through the hands of Ash and Urquhart, it was given to me to finish. This is what I came up with. Harvest’s Song The song breathes across a sunlit field The deft fingers of light strumming the harvest Golden grain waving in the breeze While workers lift their voices Their scythes flashing in the…

New Poem: Aurora’s Light

Under Fire in Soroti, Uganda A little over a year ago I went with a group from my church to visit a god friend of mine who was working in Soroti, Uganda doing mission work. We taught a group of 42 nationals a biblical study methods class. At the time, four missionary families were living there, working on building the church, orphanage, school, and medical facilities that were being planned. A year later those families have had to leave because Joseph Kony, the leader of the LRA, is attacking Soroti. I’ve been receiving emails from them periodically with updates, and…