Ocean's refrain

I was recently commissioned by a friend to write a new stanza to the old hymn "How Great Thou Art." She loves the hymn, but wished that there were a stanza about the ocean. Here's what I came up with:

When I look out and see the ocean’s rolling,
Over the sand, O Lord it’s you I see;
You wave your hands, the waves are gently flowing
Pushing the shells onto the sandy beach

"Then Sings my Soul. . ."

I had to hum the song to myself to make sure the words fit the melody. I doubt if it will ever be added to the hymnal, but I like it nonetheless.

Hannah Montana in New Orleans

So, yesterday I was in a small cajun cafe in N'awlins (New Orleans for the unititiated). Kaleb, Ty, and I decided to go there for the day and explore the place. This particular cafe we were in did not look too wholesome from the outside. The place itself was very seedy looking and its neighbor establishments did not help it much (a gentleman's club, a gay bar, etc.). Kaleb was against going in but Ty and I wanted the experience.

When we walk in I am instantly reminded of "DJ's" (where I worked, until this morning around approximately 10:03 - but that's another story). There's a bar where a couple of old guys are planted. And what could they be watching on TV but "Hannah Montana"? It's terrible, we started watching it too. It was completely involuntary. I kept looking away but I could still hear it, so it would bug me until I looked back.

And Kaleb did not want to go in! Just think about what we would have missed.

Action Figures

I have a wad of 2o dollar bills on my dresser. It staggers the mind how many action figures I could buy with that money, if only I were eight again. When I was eight, every time I got a bit of money I would go to Target and buy an action figure. Usually it was "Star Wars", occasionally it was some other random thing that looked cool at the time.

I was just thinking about why I don't get action figures any more. Their are a couple reasons I can think of:

1) I'm saving up my money for something big (like a wife)

2) I just don't have the imagination

That second reason is the one that really intrigues me. Why can't the proverbial grown ups, twenty-somethings, and teenagers play with action figures? I'll tell you - it's not because we are too old, it is because we are not young enough. We've been thrust out of the land of Narnia and black suits guard the entrance.

You can actually see it happening slowly. When kids are really young, all they need is one action figure for a good dialogue, and two for a war. Then they need the bigger sets with the plastic bushes and whatever else helps out the scenery. Finally, they need something that moves. Oh, I don't know. . . robots (Lego makes "robots" now you know).

I really wish I could go back to the point where I can play with Playmobil the way that Ben does. He goes up there and he fights wars. He actually fights along with his men. He has a whole army of Playmobil guys, but only one of them represents him. This guy is the leader, and his name is Nadar (for whatever reason Ben really likes this name). I think most kids set up their guys and make them kill each other (that's how I did it anyway; I was ruthless). But for Ben, it's like he's one of them. Of course, this is the one character that never dies. All the projectiles just seem to miss him.

Another update on my movements

Hello people,

If you are from Moscow, ID please know that I'm already missing you people. If you are from Pensacola, Fl I hope that we can hang on the beach. And if you aren't from either of those places move as soon as possible, because those places are the bomb-diggity.

Guess what? I now have a job on the beach. Faced with an option of being:

1. Unemployed in Greenland

2. Got a job on the friggin' beach

. . . I choose the latter option. You can drool if you want but it's not really as good as it sounds. It isn't that great being on the beach if you are stuck in a hot kitchen. It's a job, is what it is. A job is a job (even if it's on the beach). Anyway, it's a lovely place called "DJ's Beach Cafe." If you are ever there stop by and give me a shout.

Another hypothetical Donut

Yeah, if you are the 5000th visitor you will be rewarded with a hypothetical donut. It is an award that most people only dream about.

Israel's plight- My plight

Deuteronomy 30:1-4 (ESV): "And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord you God has driven you, and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scatterd you. If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will take you."

I was reading over this passage for my Lordship class, and the grace of God struck me full in the face. Here is something Mr. Appel pointed out to me in class, God said
"When all these things come upon you. . ." God knew that Israel could not keep the terms of the covenant. Again and again Israel wandered far from the Lord. And again and again the Lord restored them.

This is me I tell you. I am Israel. I am the prodigal son.

This is bad, certainly. But I'll tell you what's worse. When I am not being the prodigal son, I am being the elder brother. I forget that, just a few days ago, I was wallowing with the pigs.

But God is gracious. He convincts me. And He forgives me even for this.

Praise Him!

If I didn't share this. . .

I would be quite heartless. I want you to prepare yourselves, because (obviously I have no idea, but) I think this is how music in heaven will be.

This is Hoppipolla and með blóðnadir by Sigur Ros.