It’s been quite some time since I’ve last posted on my blog (which is no good excuse, but anyway…) – so here’s a little video for you.
“Sunday’s Coming” Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.
It’s been quite some time since I’ve last posted on my blog (which is no good excuse, but anyway…) – so here’s a little video for you.
“Sunday’s Coming” Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.
Heard this one on Sunday, and given the recent anniversary about John, I broke down crying.
But I think I’m all good now.
There's a peace I've come to know Though my heart and flesh may fail There's an anchor for my soul I can say "It is well" Jesus has overcome And the grave is overwhelmed The victory is won He is risen from the dead [Chorus:] And I will rise when He calls my name No more sorrow, no more pain I will rise on eagles' wings Before my God fall on my knees And rise I will rise There's a day that's drawing near When this darkness breaks to light And the shadows disappear And my faith shall be my eyes Jesus has overcome And the grave is overwhelmed The victory is won He is risen from the dead Chorus: And I will rise when He calls my name No more sorrow, no more pain I will rise on eagles' wings Before my God fall on my knees And rise I will rise And I hear the voice of many angels sing, "Worthy is the Lamb" And I hear the cry of every longing heart, "Worthy is the Lamb" [x2] [Chorus:] And I will rise when He calls my name No more sorrow, no more pain I will rise on eagles' wings Before my God fall on my knees And rise I will rise
— Chris Tomlin, I Will Rise
I can’t believe it’s been 5 years. Since I got the email from a friend asking if I knew where John was. Since I got that nagging feeling in the back of my gut that something was wrong.
Later that day I received another email and the nagging feeling turned into pain. Anger. Sadness. Grief.
John was dead. He was swept away and buried 4 feet under by an avalanche while, ironically enough, taking an avalanche safety course.
He was one of my closest friends, a strong Christian brother and one of my earliest mentors, continually challenging me to grow and mature in my faith.
It would be a lie to say that time has healed all the pain, but I look forward to the day when we will meet again.
Related:
Dear John
Atalaya SAR’s Memorial page
Sorry for the multiple lyrics posts, but this song hit me pretty hard this last week on the way in to work…
Sometimes while I'm driving Trying to find my song Looking for the answers And where I do belong Finally the children are bringin' me back home (chorus) Oooooh Oooooh Oooooh Is there anybody out there Does anybody care Are the people really there Oooooh Oooooh Oooooh Is there anybody seeking Does anybody see Or are they deaf and dumb like me Sometimes when I'm drivin' Lookin' for my song Lookin' for the answers And where I do belong Finally the children are bringin' me back home (chorus) Sometimes when I'm drivin' Still lookin' for my song Lookin' for the answers And where I do belong Finally sweet Jesus is bringin' me back home (chours) That He died upon a tree.
— Burlap to Cashmere, Anybody Out There
Lord of empty space You breathe and then create Before the earth was made You are The King of every age Outside of time and space The heavens speak Your name You are You are Lord of brilliant light You separate the night And everything inside You are The One who calms the seas And every part of me With just a word You speak You are You are. I give You all of me for all You are Here I am Take me apart Take me apart I give You all of me for all You are Here I am Take me apart Take me apart Angels bowing down Beneath the rushing sound A voice that thunders out You are The one who holds the stars And the beating of my heart Exalted above all You are You are (Chorus) All I am I want to lay down at Your feet 3x (Chorus)
— Tenth Avenue North, You Are
LOUD ANNOYING SOUND. (stupid alarm clock. smash.)
Light. (why did I open my eyes?)
Pain. (ugh. what’s that all about?)
Yes. I woke up with a hangover this morning. After one glass of wine last night. (Clearly my tolerance is, well, non-existant.)
But I had a great time. Because last night was my 27th* birthday celebration — the invitation set the tone for the evening:
We’re celebrating Dominic’s 27th* birthday with dinner at NoRTH!
There was much merriment had — it was wonderful to spend the evening with some great friends. Several people also brought poems, just as Emily had requested in the invitation.
Kelly and Marianne spent the time waiting for us to be seated to write their own little impromptu poem:
Dom, you used to be my neighbor…
That’s so cool, did you play with light sabers?
But then you up and moved, and I was sad.
Ah man, why’d you have to make her feel so bad?
And then you went and bought a big-ass truck…
Whoa, you just made Kelly Kemp say “ass”… what the f….
… but I’m still glad you’re my friend.
Alas, this poem must come to an end.
The food was delicious. (If anyone wants to go back there again for dinner, please let me know. I’ll be happy to come along for company. 😉 Since we had reservations and it still took a while to get us seated, we were given a number of free appetizers when we first sat down. the Bruschetta with whatever was on it was DELICIOUS! (As was pretty much everything else there. Yumm.)
Krista brought the next poem — Spring, by Gerard Manley Hopkins:
NOTHING is so beautiful as spring—
When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;
Thrush’s eggs look little low heavens, and thrush
Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring
The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;
The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush
The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush
With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.What is all this juice and all this joy?
A strain of the earth’s sweet being in the beginning
In Eden garden.—Have, get, before it cloy,
Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour with sinning,
Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy,
Most, O maid’s child, thy choice and worthy the winning.
Dessert was just as good as the meal — alas, the Tiramisu had too much caffeine in it, and I was unable to finish it without staying up all night.
All in all this goes down in history as one of the best birthdays I’ve had. Thank you so much all of you that came, it is truly a blessing to be surrounded by you guys.
(* Actual age may vary.)
(I came across this, author unknown)
I have in my hands two boxes Which God gave me to hold. He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black box, And all your joys in the gold." I heeded His words, and in the two boxes Both my joys and sorrows I stored. But though the gold became heavier each day The black was as light as before. With curiosity, I opened the black, I wanted to find out why, And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole Which my sorrows had fallen out by. I showed the hole to God, and mused, "I wonder where my sorrows could be." He smiled a gentle smile and said, "My child, they're all here with me." I asked God, why He gave me the boxes, Why the gold, and the black with the hole? "My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings, The black is for you to let go."