Beyond excellence

I have had a lot of time on my hands as of late. And I'm not one to waste time. So In the few things I have been doing I have been going above and beyond because I have the time and energy too. Its nice I have had some time to actually be fully fully engaged in my architectural studio and have been immersing myself in the few things I have been doing below. Enjoy.

The picture above is an idea for a main gathering hall in a convent. The use of light is supposed to evoke the same emotions as churches use to( height and light) but with a new added development weightlessness.

Below is a wall section of the concrete precast panels that would allow light to function in the above fashion.


To His greater glory,
JG

I hate introductions. Let’s just get to the point.

I have a Christian brother who can’t control himself in regards to a certain addiction…it is consuming him. He can’t stop. He sent me an email today and my heart just broke.

If there is no desire to run away from sin and a desire to stop it…what do I do with that especially with a Christian brother. Do I sit by idly til he hits rock bottom and God restores him fully regarding this certain issue or do I try like many in our culture do and try to cover his heart condition with elaborate pageantry and lies which avoid the true issues.Do I not associate with him as 1 Corinthians 5:11 says.

But now I am writing to you to stop associating with any so-called brother if he is sexually immoral, greedy, an idolater, a slanderer, a drunk, or a robber. You must even stop eating with someone like that.

Cause if I followed that model I don't think there would be much christian community because many "so called" christians have one or more of these issues going on. We'd all be forced to deal with some deep sin issues alone, which perhaps is what many of us need to do. The beauty is He meets us in the aloneness and is willing to help us along the path toward a deeper holiness we just need to place ourselves there.

My heart grieves and is pained to see that one has to hit utter disparity alone in order to understand grace a little more fully and truly have a heart’s desire change to turn to God in obedience and love. It’s so painful to see. Yet I know it is worth it.

So My prayers and the cries of my heart go out tonight to such brother. May God alone change your heart in response to Love. The one love that is worth every bit of self-sacrifice.

To His Glory alone,
JG

I miss Sammy

I decided...I miss sammy. She's the only dog I truly loved.


JG

Matthew 17:8

I get frustrated when people say God told me this that or the other. 

Its just one of those things you probably should not try and refute in other people it will just end up in a huge argument. Yet the fact remains that life has told me that not everything God "said" to these people seems to pan out. 

Yet even in those moments when their "will of God" doesn't pan out they still say "God must have other plans." 

It bugs me so much.

So forgive me in my ranting and frustration; I am a little skeptical and frustrated at something I can't bring up because "God told them". 

By no means do I have this whole communication with God thing down. I wonder sometimes if it is even possible but I think if God speaks we should probably know it or at least be able to discern a little better than most of us do in those moments. 

I know this though we get so caught up looking for specifics of what we are supposed to do , what God  told us etc. that we will occasionaly miss the line that connects all those things together. God.

He is what all our focus should be on, but perhaps we should not focus so much on him and in turn miss the world around us and him speaking around us through it.

I asked a friend a couple nights ago:

How have you seen the soverignity of God manifested in your life as of late?

As of late I think that is a far better question to be asking than " what did God tell you" and a far greater way of looking at the will of God because it forces us to look around us not inside of us. We look at who God shows himself to be and what He is doing rather than what we are doing or supposed to be doing.

I love theology for that reason, it shows me who God is. I love observing for the same purpose. When all the facts in my brain filter out, revelation comes from my heart and it has helped me understand who God is and respond to that. And that is far more valuable than anything I have "learned" or "heard". 

To His Glory,

JG

Words that Define Me

CC: wordle.net

Peter and Pride

I have a lot of time on my hands as of late mainly due to the fact I am used to having structural engineering added to my coursework as long as twice as much lab-work for architecture, likewise am used to working around 8 or so hours a week. None of those things are added to my schedule this quarter. I don't know what to do with myself. 

I feel like I suander most of the time away and am crippled by the entire days to sit in God's presence and reflect and pray. I have been doing a lot of reading though...I have been visiting ccel.org and reading some extra cannonical texts that is those books that were not originally included in what we read in the present day bible but were considered by the Council of Nicea. 

I was reading an interesting one the other day I think it was called the revelation of Peter. It pointed out something that  I am coming to realize more and more each day. I think watchman Nee puts it well:

"God deals with our lives... in order to help us understand ourselves. We realize the hardest lessons to learn is that of knowing oneself- to appreciate how corrupt, empty, sinful, and void of good one is. This lesson has to be absorbed throughout life."

-Watchman Nee

We are still in part flesh and humbleness needs to be in our hearts as Christians...see man is so full of pride and Peter knew this probably more than any one else in the Apostles. God reveals himself in the intimate ways as he oftentimes does and The revelation of peter captures this truth very well. But if you are against extra-cannonical texts look at John 21 and how Jesus rebukes "captain foot in the mouth."

We are so full of pride and we come to better terms with that each and every day we live the sanctified life.

JG

Eternally Yours

Is it a severe turning point in the life of a christian when he realizes that all of lifes lessons cannot be documented and there is knowledge and wisdom that cannot be contained in letters strung into words?

God's romancing and my heightened emotions and volition to offer a scrap of the love He offers me will say nothing other than I love You tonight. 

...and that is all I need to say.

To Your great and awesome Glory,

Eternally Yours,

 JG

Documentation finalization for summerization vacation

Sorry this is so late in getting up on this blog but I finally got done editing it tonight. The reason for the tardiness is two fold one It seems like three weeks ago when I left Colorado I was so rushed and occupied with finishing up the drywall and electrical on the basement that I didn't have time to show you the progress as of about a month ago on the basement. Two I got a new computer and getting everything up and running on my new macbook pro has been a longer process than I initially thought ie. I don't know how to work half the programs yet( you think I would be able to b now!...so here you go...enjoy.

JG

...I will trust in Your name

Like the Grains of Sand put through the flame, 

Purpose seldom seen of known

Strained to reflect, polished to shine

Soon to be shattered 

Puzzle pieces Images and mirrors

 Yet they are pieces that comprise the whole

…shards there on the ground

And I’m going to need you to Fuse what is broken back together with a fire I do not know

I have not the will or discipline to build Engetti with this sand

…I am finding it difficult to see the city to be, your purposes from dust in this dry dessert sea… but my belief in You has not faded

… it will remain

My well tested heart and will cannot see the life growing from these seeds, 

Oh To feel The rain that washes these thoughts to Ink 

The silents ripples that allow me to bleed 

The ill placed joys rippling and drowning in the puddles growing before me

To believe now …in the first drop of rain…watering what will soon become

 all of them…composing…there on the ground

They are Bleeding out, they are crying out
…I will trust in Your name

...I will believe

To His Glory alone,

JG