Toyohiko Kagawa

Don’t hide
don’t run
but rather
discover in the midst of fragmentation
a new way forward:
a new kind of journey
marked by its fragility,
uncertainty
and lack of definition
And on that path
to hold those hands
that even in their brokenness
create a new tomorrow.
To dance at the margins
and to see the face of Christ
where hurt is real and pain a way of life.
To be touched
in the eye of the storm,
aware that tomorrow may not bring peace.
Impossible you say:
Let me retreat
and find rest.
What rest my friend
in these fragmented times?

Unless you lead me Lord,
the road I journey is all too hard.
Through trust in Thee alone
can I go on.

Internal Wanderings & Abundant Grace

Something that has struck me again about the character of God is His endless capacity to forgive and to share grace with sinners. The last few months I have felt so spiritually parched and barren, wandering aimlessly, and lazily, in my heart, from Him. Yet, for no merit in myself, He again offers forgiveness and abundant life in Jesus. That’s how I want to live my life – soaring like an eagle on the updrafts of God’s grace and the freedom which He offers, not bound and shackled by own limitations and weaknesses. Yet, I know that when I do stumble and fall He is there to pick me up and accept me and give me the strength to continue, in my faltering way, to follow Him.

Feeling avuncular

I gotta tell you, I'm enjoying being an uncle so much I can't imagine what it must be like to be a father!! My brother's wife had a baby girl at the end of February and Ella is such an amazing baby! I'm still filled with awe every time I see her and the bundle of life she is.

Genesis 3 in the Garden

My garden has been crying out for me to tend to it for too long now. This evening I ventured into it to cut the grass and “do some weeding”. I was confronted with a taste of the curse of Genesis 3:17 when God cursed the ground because of Adam and the ground produced thorns and thistles as a result.

My forearms are testifying to the thorns and thistles and I was confronted with the truth of God’s Word. It reminded me, not only, of my neglect of things horticultural but my neglect of things spiritual at times - many times. How easy it is to grow cold, lazy and negligent in my love for God and His Word.

I couldn’t believe how much effort the garden required just to look tended to again and it still requires more work! So does my walk with God and how I need the help of the Holy Spirit to walk humbly and steadfastly with Him. As I examine my life, it is full of the thorns and thistles of pride, laziness, anger...the list goes on and reflects somewhat the mess and chaos of the wider world. Right there in the garden of my own heart.

Adam wouldn’t have then known the full implications of his and Eve’s actions but even there, in the 3rd chapter of Genesis, God gave them a promise of redemption. I love how Jesus is prophesied right there in verse 15 when God was cursing the evil one for tempting Adam and Eve. Jesus would, one day, conquer him. Sin won’t reign in this world indefinitely without being checked, without being challenged, without being vanquished! And, that’s why Jesus came, to deal with these spiritual and physical weeds, thistles and thorns. I’m looking forward to the new heavens and new earth, in which righteousness will dwell forever.

Wimbledon Quote of the Day IV

The game is postponed because he hit an old lady in the face!

Wimbledon Quote of the Day III

Murray sent an email there, "I'm gonna drop-shot" - Nadal read it!