Hurricane Katrina Assistance

If you're interested in helping out with disaster relief, sign up at www.harriscountycitizencorps.com this is the official volunteer effort of Harris County. When you sign up you will receive updates on the needs at the Astrodome and other shelters across the city. You can also volunteer to serve meals at HFBC. The number to call is 713-957-5845.

The Roomies

Does anyone else think I look sort of Elf-like in this picture?

I stand on the bloodfield, shell-shocked and guilty,
The sole survivor escaped. They all had it coming.
The feelings of affliction as we watch our love dying,
But for some strange reason we just keep on marching.

The ice that drips from isolation has melted me to this.
With all of my power this is all I can offer and it's broken, it's broken.

My greatest confession is that what I claim dearly is the very thing that leaves me so scared.
What if I find, in the quiet, that all I am is the sum of my habits?

The answer to my questions is "be still and know that I am loved."

Right here the Good King has been claiming His victory and it's offered, it's offered
it's given to me.

~Andrew Osenga

More reasons to love Google

They just launched GoogleTalk which should be really cool. You have to have a gmail account to use it. But even better is this! Be sure to zoom in all the way...

Home

Sunset skyline out my window; stained carpet under-foot.
Ain't that the way that it goes? We live in the bad, long for the good.

I can think too much, I can think You away.
I long for a last time with last times. Isn't that why You died for me?

So I tear hard at this brittle bone and I drink deep this wine.
Live rich from the meat of this table, for it's here where I can find
The grace of a Savior, the face of a lover, the absence of what I fear.
I'm not alone, for here I've found my home.

~Andrew Osenga

Writer's Block

I am currently having a fascinating and challenging discussion with several friends via email. It has been great and we are digging into some difficult theological questions and and seeking answers through study of the Word and commentary from scholars. Good stuff, but the downside is I have no energy or ideas for the blog! Hopefully the creative juices will start flowing again after this email exchange comes to a close. In the meantime...more quotes from other people.


Innocence

Innocence, you were taken so slowly.

So this is growing up -- to find the things that you weren't old enough to know are the things you'd never want.

I miss that simple life, the one that never existed.

Innocence, we never got to say good-bye.
But the glory of redemption is the wisdom that we find has taken your place.

~Andrew Osenga

Amen

It's taken me years in the race just to get this far,
Still there is no end in sight.
Cause I've carried my cross through the dens of the wicked,
You know I blended in just fine.
I'm weak and I'm weary of breaking His heart
With the cycle of my sin. Oh my sin.
Still He turns His face to me and I kiss it
Just to betray Him once again.

So Amen, come Lord Jesus. Amen.

~Andrew Peterson

Rise and Shine

I remember how the sunlight turned to thunder,
People ran for shelter from the rain.
The curtain tore and the saints awoke and the whole earth seemed to tremble
From the fury of God's anger, or was it the fury of His love?
There were shadows on the tomb there in the garden,
And the mist was rising slowly through the trees.
When Mary saw the silhouette on early Easter morning,
I remember how He smiled at her and said;
He said "Rise! Rise and Shine!"
"The Son is coming in and the Morning Light is shining in your eyes!"
"O Rise and Shine! The day is coming on and you know the night is gone, so Rise!"

~Andrew Peterson

The Lost Sheep

"Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine. Are they not enough for Thee?"
But our Shepherd made answer "This of mine hath wandered away from me,
And though the road be rough and steep, I go to the desert to find my sheep."

None of the ransomed ever knew how deep were the waters crossed,
Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed through to find His sheep that was lost.
Out in the desert He heard its cry, sick and helpless and ready to die.

And over the mountains, thunder-riven, and out on the rocky steep,
They heard a glad cry at the gates of heaven: "Rejoice! I have found my sheep!"
The angels echoed around the throne: "Rejoice for the Lord brings back His own!"
"Rejoice! For the Lord brings back His own!"

~Andrew Peterson

Shiloh

I've been thinking about my home,
I've never been but I will, I know.
The meadow green and the river wide,
The valley deep and the mountain high.

Saints of old are saying now
Shiloh
Ears are ringing with the sound
Shiloh
Greater still as clear as day
Shiloh
I can hear my Savior saying:

"Come home. Come home and rest awhile."

Better get on home to Shiloh.

~Andrew Peterson

Pay Attention

I know many of you aren't news junkies, so I just wanted to remind/alert you to something important happening this week. We are witnessing social, scriptural and political history this week as Israel plans to turn over the Gaza strip to the Palestinians. This is a huge step in the Mideast peace process and has significant implications for the Jewish temple in Jerusalem and thus for Christians awaiting the return of Christ.

I don't want this to become a discussion of eschatology, but take the time to watch the national news or listen to the radio or read the paper this week. Be in prayer for God's Chosen People that world issues would open their eyes to the Messiah!


Here's a link to a New York Times article on the pullout, there are some wonderful pictures as well.

Get the VOTE Out

Who wouldn't want Christopher Walken to be president of our fair nation? Spread the word! http://www.walken2008.com/index.html

An Ode to First Boys

The following Ode was written by a single and fabulous anonymous writer. Nota Bene: The opinions expressed in the following publication do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog.

An Ode to First Boys


Let's be honest, let's be straight,
when I think about First boys, there is no one to date.

I tried to make a list of the dateable guys, in an attempt to make the most of it,
but come to find out, there are so few, their names all fit on a Post-it!

There are the cute Lighthouse boys,
but they are so young they still play with toys.

Don't forget all the older, wiser guys from Shed,
but before they ask a girl out, they'll all be dead!

And then there are those hip, cool guys from Elevate,
but they all love each other so much, they hardly date!

Not lagging behind are those boys from Illuminate,
but last time I checked they all refused to date.

What about those quiet, mysterious Journey men,
but they are such bad communicators, it is nearly a sin!

The options for dating really make me quiver,
I'd have a better chance scoring with a girl from the River!

Surprise, Surprise

According to a new study by researchers in England, men have a harder time hearing women. That's right ladies, science now offers validity to what we've been saying for years: "Sometimes I think he's not even listening to me!".

According to this study, women's voices are more complex and are processed differently in the male brain than men's voices. Basically, when they listen to us it's more like listening to a piece of classical music. When they listen to other men it's like listening to basic, single tone noises. I could have told them that without doing a study.

Google is my friend

Check this out! Sweet!

Ahhh, nice and relaxing

Last night I had the evening to myself! Many of you will understand how incredibly amazing this is...no meetings, appointments, social events, Bible studies, coffee with friends, errands etc... Just a glorious evening to call my own. I contemplated finishing up the painting in the new bedroom, but decided what sounded even better was junk food, tv, bubble bath and reading in that order.

Things started out as planned...after a couple slices of pizza and a re-run of Friends I felt like a nice long soak in the tub was in order. The steam and scent of lavender filled the room. There were lots and lots of bubbles, water that was just a teeny bit too hot and a good book, a recipe for luxury.

So I'm reclining and reading and getting a little sleepy when the rain comes with a vengeance. Ahhh, this is even better, rain drumming on the roof. Then a huge peal of thunder, a flash of lightning and the electricity flickers out for a moment. Now keep in mind I am almost fully submerged in water. All I could think of was the potential newspaper reports: "Local Radio Reporter Dies in Freak Lightning Bathtub Accident." Then I imagined Kristi coming home to find my naked, fried corpse floating in the tub. Then I thought of the Medical Examiner's report: no evidence of drugs or alcohol in her system, just large quantities of caffeinne and some pepperoni pizza.

That was the end of my relaxing evening.