Larry was cancer thin when I met him so many months ago. Now he's barely more than skin and bones. For the first half hour of our visit I couldn't stay in his room - his condition had gotten so much worse since I last saw him that I just sat in the living room and tried to keep my tears from becoming more than the steady stream they already were.

When we walked into the apartment, Larry asked how I was and said "I called you a few times." Ashamed, I had no answer. I had ignored his calls, and his son's occasional call. I guess I couldn't be bothered to answer. I didn't want the burden of being there for somebody.

He cried and held my hand while my brother played the guitar and Nathan stroked his hair. Chris and I sang 'Love song for a Savior' and 'Worlds Apart'.

His bedside table is covered with medicine. Pain killers that don't help as much as he needs. He's being moved to a nursing home pretty soon, but it's an hour and a half away. He'll be closer to his sister and the rest of his family, which is good. Nathan won't get to see him very often.

My heart was broken that afternoon but by two days later I had forgotten all about it until some small memory was jogged and I could see him there, just lying in his bed, asking for some food. Nathan fed him his meal with a spoon and held his cup while he sipped through the straw. Larry wouldn't eat his vegetables.

He'll be gone before too long. A few months? I barely know him but it hurts a whole hell of a lot.

Apparently dry leaves are an excellent conductor of fire. Who knew?

This plane circled for hours, keeping an eye on things.

This house was defended by a very brave terrace, without whom it may not have survived. Oh, except for the firemen. They probably helped a little bit too.

If you look very carefully, you still won't be able to see my house in this shot.

It almost looks like fog, but don't be fooled - this pretty white stuff will eat your lungs.

Desolation.

Where there's smoke there's fire. And in this case, a fireman.

I like to imagine that these four trunks on the right are the arms and legs of an ent - an ent who is stuck in the ground head-first.

I'm running out of things to say about these images.

Burny things.

Fifteen-acre burn zone. No structural damage to any of the homes nearby. No humans were hurt, but there was one confirmed casualty - a box turtle didn't make it out in time.

You are passionate about helping the starving indigenous people of wherever. Will you feed the hungry man on the corner down the street?

You are looking for someone to share the Gospel with. Have you forgotten about that friend you grew up with, the one you know isn't a believer; the one you give a 'pass' to because it would be awkward to approach the subject?

The further removed a problem is, the more convenient it is to to pitch in your token assistance (or your token concern) and feel better about yourself while keeping your precious distance. Don't let anyone else's problems get too close to home, or they may make you get your hands a little dirty. They make make you sweat a bit. They may cost a little more than you actually want to give of yourself.

Give to world hunger relief organizations. Invite the stranger with the 'Will work for food' sign to a meal.

Show your support for those fighting intolerance and injustice in that foreign country. Be loving towards the guy at work that just rubs you the wrong way, and the one who holds such very different beliefs.

Help shoulder the load for the financially needy in your community. Don't neglect the emotional needs of the average Joe you pass by every day in the hall.

Donate towards the printing of tracts and Bibles in every language. Spread the Gospel among those you know the very best.

Ask. Seek. Inquire. Find out what makes people tick, what drives them, what goals they have, what scars they carry. Find out what needs you can meet for the barista you see every morning, or the guy that cleans the floors in your office. You see him at least one a week — do you even know his name?

Don't forget to help the guy next door when you're working on saving the world. Don't limit your charity to non-contact, zero-investment, emotionless drive-by donations. And don't hide your lamp under a basket because it's awkward to be different.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:10

By what metric do you measure your achievement in life? Do your achievements indicate your value or worth? Or is there something external to yourself, some objective reality to rest upon, that gives you worth despite your lack of achievement? If there is, what is it? If there is not, what would your life look like if there were?

What makes you tick?

What makes you think?

Oh Father, you have freed me from slavery to sin. You have made alive what was dead, and have called into being that which was not. Help me, then - give me a heart that longs to be in your presence, that rightly so considers your glory to be the most important thing there is. Enslave me to your righteousness, and make my rebellion so distasteful that I refuse to have any part of it. Father, your ways are higher than my ways, and your thoughts higher than my thoughts. Bring my thoughts and my ways close to yours. Align my life with your word. Break me of every wrong habit and purge every unclean word from my lips. Burn away my every hindrance and obstacle to full submission. Thank you, my God, for the forgiveness and acceptance you have imputed to me through Christ. He that knew no sin became sin, so that in him I might have his righteousness - how can I therefore still cherish my sin? Take it away, Lord. You have promised that you withhold no good thing from us, and that everything works out for good for those who love you, who are called according to your purpose. Cleanse me, then. Oh, do not tarry in sanctifying your servant. Break me and bruise me, but only remove my leper's spots and make me pure.

Søren Kierkegaard, For Self-Examination

For the sake of your own life, give your body the nutrition it needs. Exercise your mind and do not be overly entertained with trivialities. Search your soul and listen to the quiet voice that you are accustomed to ignoring and see that there is no great mystery to fulfillment: give yourself to Christ and he will satisfy your thirst.

“To the Chief Musician.
With stringed instruments.
On an eight-stringed harp.
A Psalm of David.

O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger,
Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.
Have mercy on my, O Lord, for I am weak;
O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
My soul also is greatly troubled;
But You, O Lord —how long?

Return, O Lord, deliver me!
Oh, save me for Your mercies' sake!
For in death there is no remembrance of You;
In the grave who will give You thanks?

I am weary with my groaning;
All night I make my bed swim;
I drench my couch with my tears.
My eye wastes away because of grief;
It grows old because of all my enemies.

Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity;
For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.
The Lord has heard my supplication;
The Lord will receive my prayer.
Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled;
Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.”

Psalm 6

Just as I am, without one plea,
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidst me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.