mus·ing /ˈmyo͞oziNG/

Year after year it comes Month on month we anticipate Day after day we wait The seasons declare it here As the weather does Its joy pervades And the gleeful fanfare deny it not With grandeur we celebrate Unaware, its essence slips Though its purpose eternally sealed Matt 1:18-24, Luke 1:26-2:20, Isaiah 9:6

[Dedicated to the memories of kids that did not live to their fifth birthday and to the many care-givers that did all they could to care for them.] For days she’d been here Incarcerated to a reformatory not bargained By the cold hands of an infirmity That wouldn’t let go. In agony I watched her Drowning in her own waters. Life was stealthily taking a leave As it could no longer be contained. She clenches to the thread of strength Holding her frail and feeble body. My libations to appease rebuffed, Incapably I stared. To a plea I resorted; “It’s only a while you’ve been here. Remember the sweetly voices of angels in damsels skin. And, the thundering beats of strong men Heralding your arrival.” I struggled so hard not to, But to no avail, A warm laden tear trickled; Contradicting the believe that we don't cry. Rhetorically, I asked why? And to the realms of comprehension I peered. But, more questions I got Than I sought to know. circa 2003

Fresh, local champs, simple and pristine kids were we when we boarded. It was in the year of our Lord, and it was the fourteenth day of the fourth month. Then, our ship did set sail after a much protracted delay and many months behind its scheduled departure date. “It's a sea fever”, someone said. “No! It’s the heat on board”, replied another. Whatever it was, many didn’t make it past the first 365 nautical miles - a year gone and we were yet at sea. We did spend many months at the “Municipal bay”. Thereafter, we headed for the battle for survival of the fittest. At that time, all else made no meaning. All we thought of was surviving. Life was triangular and predictable. Sleep, wake, and gaze at the endless pages of books were the order of the day. Then came the battle at the canal of Meghan-Bolt (MBI) - between the Red sea and the Mediterranean, an extension of the Atlantic. Not too many survivors made it through. After that, we lost count of time. It was better facing life as

11      You crown the year with Your goodness,      And Your paths drip with abundance. 12      They drop on the pastures of the wilderness,      And the little hills rejoice on every side. 13      The pastures are clothed with flocks;      The valleys also are covered with grain;      They shout for joy, they also sing. -Psalm 65:11-13

For each new morning with its light,      For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food,      For love and friends, For everything Thy goodness sends. [Thank you] -Ralph Waldo Emerson

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving     and his courts with praise;     give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;     his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:4-5 New International Version (NIV) David Haas' puts into words those things being thankful for And, these from the 'archive' never cease to bring back many great and beautiful memories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qog8A_285Nk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF4xWiFO980 tidbit:  http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/five-truths-about-thanksgiving

Mr. Nouwen emphasizes that, to be a disciple of Christ, a disciplined life is essential. Discipline not in terms of control but rather an effort at creating spaces in which God can act. He centers his message on the story in Luke 6: 12 – 19; which tells of a typical Jesus’ day. The day started with an all-night of prayer followed by the appointment of the 12 disciples, and thereafter the going out to preach the Word, to heal and to care for the people.  The essay describes the three disciplines of solitude , community , and ministry .   Mr. Nouwen writes that in solitude [described as being with God] we discover that we are ‘beloved’ – that which enables us to deal with successes and failures without losing our identity. In the hub – a central anchor to all of life of solitude we discover the call to community;  in solitude,  we  realize that we are a part of a family and want to lift something together Mr. Nouwen writes. Mr. Nouwen describes Community as a way of life which enc

It was election day. Office mood seemed a bit cheerful and anticipatory. Many anticipated an election victory for their preferred candidate. Cheerfully L asked, "did you vote"? "No, I get to wait a few more years before I can", I replied. "That's unfair! She interjected. "You do pay your taxes but someone who has failed to pay his in many years is contesting for the highest office", she continued. For some others, the feeling of apprehension was almost very well written across their faces. Someone like R who'd said "it's too close for comfort" in response to my question of how he was doing. He appeared visibly invested on the outcome of the day. He had hopes his candidate would win, but results from polls projected a close race with not a clear-cut winner. However for the most part, work went as usual for the day. Like many a citizen, non-citizen national and others, I returned home to find a place around a live and near real-tim

Truth, thee we seek Too many a knowledge we pursue Confound our understanding To dispute, our virtues it sues Come and make thyself known That into oblivion otherwise may flee Sept 12 2004, 12:50am

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.                          1 Timothy 2:1-2 ESV And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.                          Psalm 9:10 ESV Dear Father, We know You are not surprised nor fearful any day and so You are no different on election day. We praise You for being the One worthy of our trust. Today we pray for wisdom for our leaders, for the discretion of Your people, and the unity of our country. No matter the election results, we long to acknowledge the truth of Your Word. May our worries rest in Your promises, may our thoughts be wrapped in Your steadfast love alone, and may our hearts be unified to further Your kingdom. Amen. Courtesy - Dayspring

"Soul Cravings has its high moments. McManus’ ability as a motivational speaker and writer are evidenced in the many inspirational stories and pep-rally feel. But McManus substitutes philosophical and psychological ideas for biblical ones . In the end, he succeeds in identifying the true longing of our heart (cravings) but fails to point us in the right direction...He has opened the door in Soul Cravings to explore the true God but he has not taken his reader beyond the threshold." – Gary Gilley, ChristianBookPreviews.com http://www.christianbookpreviews.com/christian-book-detail.php?isbn=0785214941 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-chan/what-is-more-important-lo_b_1160548.html It appears Soul Cravings highlights a potential fallout of extreme apologetics or a less than appropriately executed apologetics - a potential attempt to address eternal biblical perspectives from a finite, error prone lens. Apologetics is great and finding a common ground is awesome for communic

Where there is no vision, the people perish:     but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. [KJV] Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;     but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction. [NIV] Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;     But happy is he who keeps the law [NKJV] When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.     But whoever obeys the law is joyful. [NLT]                                                      - Prov 29:18 http://www.challies.com/articles/where-there-is-no-vision-proverbs-2918 “Then, after doing all those things,     I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy.     Your old men will dream dreams,     and your young men will see visions .                                                      - Joel 2:28 [NLT]

If you can keep your head when all about you     Are losing theirs...; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,     But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired of waiting,     Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated, don't give way to hating,     And yet don't look too good,  nor talk too wise; If you can dream -- and not make dreams your master;     If you can think -- and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster     And treat those two impostors just the same; ...................................................................... If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,     Or walk with kings -- nor lose the common         touch; If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;     If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute     With sixty seconds' wort

"...eyes wide opened - a learned discipline; it can be taught, it can be practiced..."  - Isaac Lidsky. Courtesy - http://wallpapersafari.com/free-fall-foliage-wallpaper/ Fall is here. That time of the year when leaves change. Chlorophylls deplete while carotenoids and anthocyanins take a center stage - a beautiful orchestra and interplay of biochemistry wonderful to behold. However, what do we see? What do we perceive? And, what is ' it '? Oftentimes, things we see (or the things we choose to see) cloud our notion, and thus rob us of  the ' truth ' of what is. Seeing is believing - so said. It may however likewise be said that believing is seeing. The process of believing enlists elements of our thought processes - members of the image forming neural circuitry. A bilateral relationship that isn't without the other and feed off one another. Perhaps an example is the common situation in which the cup is half full or the cup is half empty. One may