This wonderful lyric has been a blessing to me: in spurring me on to the fight, encouraging me in my love for others, and capturing a wonderful vision of Christ's work of forgiveness.

"O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood!
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives."

- from To God Be The Glory by Fanny J. Crosby

- posted by Jonathan@ 9:42 AM

 
BLOG!

- posted by Jonathan@ 8:51 PM

 
Give Peace a Chance


- posted by Jonathan@ 11:19 AM

 
119

The Psalmist declared,
"O how I love your law!"
He found it best to meditate upon it
The guidance of your hand,
made known through your word,
brought wisdom
O Lord, that my feet would never leave your path
but only take me deeper into your heart

I have hidden your word
beneath layers of tissue and bone
divided to the marrow, sewn and patched
and still
and in quiet places
that I might not sin against you

I want to know the beauty of your holiness
and those moments where I've tasted and seen
have left such a hunger
Yet in your Word I am filled
Deeply from the well, my thirst is satisfied
I gain understanding from your precepts
therefore, I hate every wrong path

In the light of your word
hidden places are made known
and I can see the throne room

- posted by Jonathan@ 11:44 AM

 
Song of Songs 2:4

"His banner over me is love"
and so to sit and ponder this thought--

The warmth of the sun is on my back
and still my eyes squint from its strength
I've found this love that covers all my sin
and I seem to be swimming
in an ocean of beauty
Like a bird, bathing itself in a puddle
after a fresh rainfall
Or like walking through a parking lot
reading a lovely book
getting lost in it all

I rejoice in simple things
Yet I am fearfully and wonderfully made
How sweet a thought it is
How lovely a burden, and how fitting
for a young man to bear the Lord's yoke
To sit quietly and wait for the day of the Lord's salvation

and his banner over me is love

- posted by Jonathan@ 11:35 AM

 
So I've been back in the US for like a month now. This summer was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Living overseas, and being part of a different culture is just something that can't quite be expressed. But seriously, it was wonderful and beautiful and God moved and blessed and healed and directed. Hallelujah!

I'm living in Illinois now, with Ceamona's parents while she's at school in the city. I'm attending community college, I start working for the St. Charles' corps after school program next week, and I bought a car two days ago. Things are on "track" you could say. More importantly though, God has been taking these things that he started teaching me so long ago--things he opened my eyes to last summer, things he confirmed and grew this past year, things he stretched and tested this summer, and things now taking deeper root and bearing much fruit in my heart and mind--and he's using them to really shape me and change me. How wonderful, praise him won't you?

- posted by Jonathan@ 10:10 AM

 
I´m in Antofogasta, Chile.

- posted by Jonathan@ 9:49 PM