The Back Porch

Hope

nathansiegele — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 03:28:59 +0000

Hope’s brilliant light, though far out in the future,
Keeps struggling souls from sinking in despair;
She drives away the clouds of melancholy,
And scatters joyful sunshine everywhere.

She is the mother of all inspiration-
Great dreams and visions are her children too.
With them she lures men to great achievements,
And when achieved she beckons them anew.

Thus marvel follows marvel in succession,
And men are fain to follow where she leads;
They go from land to sea, from sea to planets,
Conveyed by thought as if on magic steeds.

The diligent will not be disappointed,
And those who doubt and wait can find her still,
But they must banish all their bygone failures,
And press on with a firm and steadfast will.

H. H. Siegele (my great-grandfather)

Psalm 62:5
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him

LION CHASER’S MANIFESTO By Mark Batterson

nathansiegele — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 04:27:40 +0000

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshiping what’s right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don’t try to be who you’re not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away.

Chase the lion!

Love

nathansiegele — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 04:04:23 +0000

Love is a tie that nothing can
Break or remove,
When it controls the heart of man,
For God is love,
And love is God;
Who wrought the mighty universe;
So deep, so broad
That, though the stars in heaven disperse,
And sun and moon should pass away-
Though earth should vanish, as it may-
Love will control.
I know that God-love can not die-
In mercy will-I know not why-
Protect my soul.

Terrify No More

nathansiegele — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:56:12 +0000

This is an amazing book about IJM’s groundbreaking work in the notorious Cambodian village of Svay Pak. It will open your eyes to the terrible world of slave labor and sex trafficking. I read it twice.