hey guys...

nothing too much going on... being blessed, basically.  Last week was a beautiful blend of God's grace and intense struggling.  

-God explicitly revealed the extent to which he has plans for me personally through an article about Josh Hamilton.  

-I am admitting to myself (perhaps for the first time) that I do have a problem with food... binge eating isn't overly glamerous but knowledge is power and I am really hopeful that giving denial the kiss of death will be helpful in overcoming this stupidness.

-God has provided in other ways too- successes at work,  in our dealings with each other (one of the most powerful of the week, actually), clarification on future plans...

I'm full.  I want to go shout from the mountain tops.  I'm optimistic.  I'm encouraged.  I'm (gasp!) learning how to surrender?  Most of all, I'm overwhelmed with God's love.

Thank you Father... I acknowledge that these things have come from you and I honor you.

God willing, we'll be doing some traveling the next few weeks.

Hope everyone has a good week,

Jason

anniversary weekend

Basically awesome.  Kate and I enjoyed hanging out.  Concert was more awesome than not.  The "modest" hunting grounds of Nyphenberg Palace was relaxing which = de-facto awesomeness... weather was perfect.

Kate and I on the train towards Munich.

Adam from Taking Back Sunday

Lead singer and Tim from Underoath

more Underoath...

view looking out from Nyphenberg Palace.

...and the view looking back.

a bit (*a lot) distorted, but Emery performing "Walls"

we just visited the castle in Lichtenau earlier... pictures (and a historical video?) on Kate's blog here.

be blessed,

Jason

basking in the goodness...

Have you guys heard Kim Walker's "How He Loves Us?"  Man, amazing song- 

He is our portion, we are his prize

Drawn to redemption by the grace in his eyes

If grace is just a notion, we are sinking...

Heaven meets earth with a sloppy wet kiss

and My heart turns violently in my chest

I don't have time to maintain these regrets

when I think about the wayyyyyy

He loves us.. oh, how He loves us... oh how, He loves us...

I've heard it a thousand times- keep your focus on Jesus (which is followed by the standard story of Peter walking on the water).  Wow, is humanity horrible at this or what?... you see this lack of focus in the lives of Christians too and lives are negatively impacted.  I've always intellectually accepted "focusing on Jesus" but on a certain level, I dismissed the notion in my heart as "church speak."  Just like the lyrics say, though... I don't have time to maintain regrets (or a whole litany of other problems and addictions) when I think about the way He loves us.  It is truly overwhelming yet perfectly satisfying.  Pursue it.

"...Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." 

Matthew 22:37

Otherwise, 1 year anniversary this weekend- we are going to Munich.

I've been insanely excited about Texas Rangers baseball for some reason (MLB just started, ladies).  I had grown weary of baseball in recent years but it has a newfound excitement.  GO RANGERS!!!!

be blessed,

Jason

mm-mmm-ugh-mm (clearing my throat)

ROCKY TOP, YOU'LL ALWAYS BE... HOME SWEET HOME TO ME... GOOD OLE ROCKY TOP... ROCKY TOP TENNESSEE....

ROCKY TOP TENN-EEE-SSSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE (you provided victory, Kate is history)   EEEEE.... YEE-HAW!

Monopoly and country music last night-

Be blessed,

Jason

this is basically monumental...

So, I finally turn 28 this weekend... its pretty exciting considering I've spent a good portion of the last year thinking I was already 28.  So readership of 4, what were you doing at age 28?  It's really strange you know... time races by and yet the time from this birthday to the last seems to have gone by quite slow.

In lesser news, it looks like Kate and I will be taking our first cruise before I deploy in late June-early July.

love,

Jason

We survived!

skiing... our first time- more on that in a moment.

A few weeks ago we went to the Nazi Documentation Center in Nuremberg.  Nuremberg played a significant role in the Nazi movement and the unfinished Congress Hall (meant to host the annual party gatherings) is the largest surviving example of Nazi architecture today.  It is part of a larger complex of structures, several of which were never completed due to funds being shifted to the war effort.  One of those was to be a 400,000 capacity sports stadium (intended to be the biggest in the world) which was never really started... they got as far as digging a foundation and today it serves as a lake surrounded by a park.  On the other side of a lake is Zeepelin Field, site of the Nazi's biggest rallies, including those filmed by Leni Riefenstahl in the propaganda classic Triumph of the Will.  You can go down to the same place in which Hitler gave speeches to the masses (250,000 people).  The museum, housed in a wing of the Congress Hall, focuses entirely on the National Socialists Party and Nuremberg's role in its ascent.  One thing that I remember two weeks later were internal memos from the Gestapo estimating that only 2 out of 1,000 people opposed Hitler.  Amazing. Overall, a fascinating day... good to get out of the house... and hang out with Kate.

So, skiing with the chapel this weekend in Garmisch.  Yea, harder than it looks.  Bunny hills all day... Here are some pictures.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shadow or turning..."    James 1:17

Be blessed,

Jason

New month, new post...

Its March already, huh?  Its good though- above all, March means that the end to cold weather is within sight... while the incessant grayness that fills the sky will continue, it gives me something to look forward to down the road.

So, what have Kate I been up to you ask?  We got a second car a few weeks ago- a maroon 94 Ford Escort- actually, I have left the lights on twice in a row, necessitating a jump both times after work.  Hmm, Kate accidentally cut her hair a few days ago- that was interesting. Otherwise, we really haven't done too much because of school... but that has been a huge blessing in itself.  God has really been showing me His faithfulness through work/school and I'm learning that stuff will be OK.  We'll probably go somewhere this weekend to get out of the house, though.

Otherwise, thought I would list some books I'm interested in (not in order of interest).

Slouching Toward Gomorrah:  Modern Liberalism & American decline by Robert H. Bork

Postwar by Tony Judt

In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust

Problem of Pain by C. S. Lewis

Manufacturing Consent by Noam Chomsky

Diary of Anne Frank

Economic Facts & Fallacies by Thomas Sowell

Lust for Life by Irving Stone 

Best of Europe 2009 by Rick Steeves

Europe through the Back Door  by Rick Steeves

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Have you read any interesting books lately you might recommend?  

What about music?  We have some ITunes cards and I'm always interested in something new.

Until next month,  

Jason