James McGarry

2007-03-06T15:11:00.000-08:00

I have not updated in quite sometime. So I wanted to take the opportunity to inform all of you that as of today I am in the Army.

(The Insignia of the 307th psychological Special operations unit)

I leave in Sep for boot camp and will go straight to my job training. I leave in May to go to Bulgaria (as many of you know) I will have two weeks home before boot camp.
I would greatly appreciate all of your prayers as my time before Bulgaria is coming to an end. That God will bring in the remainder of my funds. That he will help prepare me mentally, spiritually, emotionally, not only for Bulgaria but also for boot camp.

Many of you may be wondering what I'm going to do in the Army, well let me tell you. I'm going to be part of the Psychological Warfare Special operations. I am not going active duty (full time) I am just doing reserves (one weekend a month). I am also doing a college program so I will still be attending college when I'm done with my training.

Hope all of you are doing well!
-James

Through the Eyes of Solomon, A view on the book of The Song of Solomon.

2007-02-02T11:54:00.000-08:00

I would like to start off by saying that I have never done anything like this before. This book deals with intimate relationships; I have never been in an intimate dating/marriage relationship before. I have no formal training in reading let alone leading a discussion about the bible. That being said, let’s do this thing!

The Song Of Solomon Chapter 1
The Song of Songs, which is Solomons.

The Bride Confesses Her Love
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his
mouth!
For your love is better then wine;
3 Your anointing oils are fragrant;
your name is oil poured out;
therefore virgins love you.
4 Drew me after you; Let us run.
The king has brought me into his
chambers.

Others
We will exult and rejoice in you;
we will extol your love more than
wine;
rightly do they love you.

She
5 I am very dark but lovely,
O daughters of Jerusalem,
like the tents of Kadar,
like the curtains of Solomon.
6 Do not gaze at me because I am dark,
because the sun has looked upon me.
My mother’s sons were angry with me;
they made me keeper of the vineyards,
but my own vineyard I have not kept!
7 Tell me, you whom my soul loves,
where you pasture your flock,
where you make it lie down at noon;
for why should I be like one who veils
herself
beside the flocks of you companions?

I’m going to stop here because I think the way the book opens is amazing! It sets up what is to come, a poem of undying love. If we look at verse 2 we see that physical touch is a longing desire of the hart. I believe that is was not something that was executable in that time to have any physical “connection” before marriage. The Bride is longing for a relation ship with the man that is more then looks and words there is something else that she is longing for. As we continue we see that she dose not actually want to “kiss” him she merely is saying that he is all that she wants to “kiss”, she is in essence saying that she is devoted to him.
As we read verses 3-4 we see that the Bride is doting upon Solomon, she is affirming him in his purity. She is also calling upon him to call after her, for the to “run”. I would compare this to the jitters that one has on there wedding day. The Bride and Groom want nothing more then to be married but at the same time want nothing more then to stand at the alter and be wed. The part of the others I would read as people affirming what the Bride is saying. They are saying, “rightly do they love you” you are what she is saying you are. It’s like getting an approval from your friend for your relationship with your boyfriend/girlfriend; they are in a sense rejoicing with the Bride.
Verses 5-7 I think is a sort of confession. “I am very dark, but lovely” This is the Bride saying I am not perfect but I can act as though I am. I am not without blemish, “My mothers son’s were angry with me they made me keeper of the vineyards”. I would read this as a form of “character building” as my Dad would say. They do not want for the Bride to become proud of “beautiful”. Not that being beautiful is bad but to be beautiful is to be a statue for people to gaze at. She was then sent to the Vineyard to work, to “get her hands dirty” if you will. Almost as if to say that she has learned that there is more to life then be beautiful. This summer while in Bulgaria I saw many vineyards and they are beautiful but they need much tending and work to keep them up. They have to be pruned; the soil needs to be cared for. It is a job that takes many men many long hours. There are many aspects of tending to gardens that I don’t know about. I am not a gardener but I do know that it takes a lot of work to keep a garden let alone a fragile vineyard.
She then proceeds to ask where Solomon keeps his flock asking, “Why should I be like one who veils herself beside the flocks of you companions?” Why would she ask this? I think it is saying that she dose not want to sit by while Solomon is out tending the flock. She dose not wan to hid behind a veil and watch. She wants to be a part of his life. Be it sitting in the field tending the flock or among company of companions she longs to be part of his life. She dose not want to become a figure or statue. A “Desperate house wife” if you will, someone that is there but has no clue what is going on in the life of her husband. I think this explicitly shows the inner longing of every married woman. To be at perfect union with her spouse, I think this is a beautiful picture that is painted here and in the beginning. When Adam and Eve were in the garden before the fall. They became one flesh they had perfect union with one another. This is something that I cannot further elaborate on. I am not a woman nor am I married. So I will end with this. This is only the intro of what is one of the most explicitly beautiful poems I have ever read. It is the most pure description of love I have ever seen. I paints an amazing image of what marriage is to be.

Earlier I mentioned physical “connection”. All I meant by that was that there is this assumed “connection” that happens when you meet your “true love”. I am not saying that true love dose not exist, all I meant is that our culture puts too much emphasis on physical attraction/connections. Sex is not a sacred thing that is to be kept for the beautiful union of a husband and wife. It has been degraded to a means of telling if you like someone. But that is for another time.

End Of Kayak's

2007-02-01T11:50:00.000-08:00

I'm done! I had put my two weeks in at Kayak's Café. Today I received a call from my boss. He sounded distressed and was very quick to question me. He started off by saying that I did not need to come in tomorrow for my last shift. He then asked if I needed to tell him anything. I informed him that I had nothing to say. He continued to try and get me to fess up to something, so I asked him what was on his mind. He then informed me that there was a surprise visit by the health inspector, he continued by asking if that came as a surprise. I told him that it was not surprised by a health inspection (my manager had been telling me that there would be one soon). He then informed me that he heard that I told everyone there that on my last day I would mess with the food and call a health inspector to try and get him in trouble. I hastily told him that that was not true in the least. I told him that I had joked about answering the phone Kaldi’s or Starbucks (rival coffee shops), and that it was nothing more then joking. He did not believe me and seemed to be getting more and more upset. The phone conversation ended with him telling me not to come in for my last shift and that they would mail my last paycheck. I was somewhat relived, I had been looking for someone to cover my shift. So it all works out in the end, I just thought I was crazy that he would make up or take so seriously that rumor (that is that outlandish) especially because he knows that Kyle (a co-worker) and I joke all the time, and never go through with anything we say.

Class is starting to pick up. I’m really enjoying it, and I can’t wait untill I get to start my clinical rotation!

I recently saw the movie “Children of Men”. I was very intrigued by the message it was sending. It has to be one of the best movies I have seen in the cinema recently. It was beautifully written, directed, the cinematography was amazing, and on top of all that it has some very talented actors! I think this movie hits so close to home that it is far off. I love how they incorporated the use of news of out time as news from recent past in the film. I’m not going to say much about the plot because I don’t want to give it away (I hate when people do that). I will say if you have not seen this movie yet you should. I will caution you that is has some very graphic violence (probably the most believable violence I have ever seen in a movie. But watch in the background of almost every scene there is some sort of political reference hidden in the crowd or newspaper clippings. I loved how provocative it was, it really makes you look at what is happening in a different light. It makes you see things less of a instant gratification perspective out look on life.

I will begin my “looking through the eyes of Salomon” later this evening! So please check back for that!

-James

Stressed

2007-01-23T20:30:00.000-08:00

Last Monday I got to learn about the human body from dissecting a human body. I didn't actually dissect it but got to hold most of the organs. I really enjoy studying medical stuff. It's hard and I'm really having to work at this, yet I love it. I put in my two weeks at work. I feel bad for quiting but at the same time it really was not a good place to work. I was not able to eat or really drink at all. I'm really getting tired or people using me. This past week I've seen just how much I give, I'm draining my self for other people day and night. I'm learning how to say no. This has to be one of the hardest things I've done in a while. Every time I say no I feel all of this judgment that is not really there. I'm trying to "turn off" my emotions when it comes to my interaction with others. That's all I have tonight I'm really tired so I'm going to go and watch some Seinfeld!

-James

EMT-B

2007-01-17T14:38:00.000-08:00

Today is the first day of my EMT class! It's the only class I'm going to take this semester. The reason I'm only taking one class is because it's an 8 hour class, Plus clinical study on my own time on top of course study. I'm thinking about doing a "Bible study" through Blogger. I was thinking about posting a few verses from the Song of Solomon, posting my thoughts then opening it up for discussion. Would anyone be interested in taking part in the discussion? Well I guess I should grab some dinner and get to class.

Emily Rose

2007-01-11T14:54:00.000-08:00

I watched The Exorcism of Emily Rose the other day. I was not really sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised at how well written it was and how well placed the lighting and camera angles where. It was not like a horror film it was more of a drama with a jump out and get you feel to it. It really got me to thinking about demonic forces. What do I believe about them? It did a great job at scientifically justifying what was happening. But to a certain extent it did not quite cut it. I still am not sure what I think about possession or exorcisms. All I know is that when I was watching the movie something inside me told me that it was not real. Although I know that Jesus casted out demons. for some reason I felt as though that dose not happen now. Then I asked myself why? Why could they not be around anymore? The more I thought about it the more I realized that I don't really want to know. I know that demonic forces are real and I know that angles are real but why could I not believe that someone being possessed by a demon in our day is real? I know that the Exorcism of Emily Rose is based on a true story about a girl in the 1950's in France. Why is it that we keep supernatural forces at bay in our minds? I think it has to do with power. We want so much to be in control that we will not let a realm into our thoughts unless we have power over it. Or at least have the power to interact with it at will. Personally I don't think I want to know because I don't know anything about it. I have no real way of knowing. There is so much corruption in today's society that I don't know what to believe. I am still not sure what I think about psychiatric conditions being treated with medications. I would love any input that you (the reader) has to say about this I would like for you to think of this as more of a discussion than a statement!

Harland Williams

2007-01-11T14:47:00.000-08:00

Harland Williams is one of the funniest men alive! I love his stuff! This video is not his best but It's the best I could find.

I AM CANADIAN (I'm not actually Canadian)

2007-01-05T14:23:00.001-08:00


I first saw this at Urbana 2006! To my surprise the week to follow would be filled with Canadians! I have to say after a week of working with Canadians I find this video even funnier!

Urbana 2006

2007-01-03T13:28:00.000-08:00

Urbana is over.
The odd post conference depression is setting in. I worked in the Health clinic. I spent more then 60 hours there. I am starting to miss the people that I worked with. I'm not sure what to do with my self. On top of that I'm getting sick. I feel stupid for letting them use me to work so much. I enjoyed it but at the same time I have learned that I have to draw the line because no one else can do that for me. At the same time I would not have traded my time there for anything. I've been keeping myself busy since then. I've been working and catching up on my sleep. I am also proud to say that I have completed my support letter! All I have to do is raise my support and I can leave! I can't wait! I'm set to leave the 28th of May! I'll be in GA for two day's then I'll leave for Sofia, Bulgaria! I'll return after about three months! Below is my support letter that explains more of what I'll be doing!

So back to post Urbana depression. Does anyone want to hang out? I need social interaction. I know it will come. I feel like I'm standing on a ship approaching an island. I can see it through the fog at first then it starts to take shape. Until finally I can make out large buildings. then small building until I can see people coming and going to and fro. I am at that place where all I want is to be there but don't know how to make the ship I'm on go faster. I hold tight to what I have on the ship until I can reach the shore. I know that when I get there I will look back and laugh for my memory will only know it as a second in time.

-James

____________________________________________________________________

This past summer I had the privilege of going to Bulgaria for a week with Missions to the World (MTW). While there I got to see what God was doing in his global mission. I am excited to announce that God has provided an opportunity for me to go to Sofia, Bulgaria in May to work with a church there. I am grateful to be able to participate in a three-month internship program with Mission to the World in Bulgaria.

Through my experiences on previous mission trips, I have gained a love for cross-cultural missions. I am very eager to spend three months living among the peoples of Bulgaria. In my time in Bulgaria I will primarily be working as a translator to American teams, assisting them in sharing about the good news of Jesus Christ. I will be in school for the first three weeks I’m in Bulgaria in order to learn Bulgarian but I will also be working with the youth of the church to disciple and mentor them. In addition, I will be working in the church to help the congregation in whatever ways I can, be it leading worship, or following up with people throughout the week. I’m excited to serve the body of Christ in Sofia in whatever ways I am needed.

I ask that you prayerfully consider partnering with me. I believe that the Lord has called me to serve him in this way, but I am not called to serve alone. MTW estimates that it will cost roughly $7,614 for me to travel to Sofia and minister there for three months. I need the financial support of the Church here at home in order to go and serve the Church in Sofia. I also am in need of your prayers to sustain me leading up to and my trip and while I am there. Even if you cannot commit to support me financially or in prayer, I would still like to keep you updated as to what the Lord is doing in my life and in the life of The First Church in Miladost (Mi lad’ost). If you do choose to support me, please simply tear off the form on the bottom of this page, and mail it to the address listed. All checks should be made payable to Mission to the World, and should include the number 014539 (my MTW account number) in the memo line of the check.

I am excited to have the opportunity to grow in my own understanding of God’s kingdom as I share the gospel with the people of Sofia. Please consider any way that you are able to contribute to this opportunity.

Yours in Christ,

James McGarry