I Can't Sleep...

I started back to seminary yesterday. It was great to see my friends and professors. However, I was reminded that when I am in seminary, I have homework to do. Seems pretty obvious, but I always seem to forget that until I get back into 'seminary mode.' Then WHAM!

I don't really have a good reason as to why I can't sleep tonight. I'm not upset about anything, but perhaps it was the coffee I drank today, and then the Diet Dr. Pepper I had with our late dinner. Steph made chili tonight, which was WAY better than the chili she made last night. I don't think it was all the beans, but I guess we'll see in the next few hours...

I wish I could sleep. Our church has a men's prayer meeting on Wednesday's (tomorrow!) at 6:30 am, so of all nights to be sleepless, this is not one of them. There are a lot of exciting things going on right now: new Transform Ministries site (COMING SOON!), lots of speaking opportunities, writing D-NOW curriculum, seminary, meeting new folks in Brenham, etc. One time I had a friend, who happens to be a shrink, tell me that "There is a fine line between excitement and anxiety..." Hrmph... So, for now I choose to be excited. : : smiles : :

Several people have gotten on to me the last few days about me not blogging more, so this is one attempt to provide some late night reading fodder for those friends (3 or 4) who actually read my blog. I go in blogging spurts. Steph, my dear wife, is a blogging champion. I'm not... Oh well.

So, I'm going to go waste a few more moments of my life before I try to sleep again... Talk with you soon... OR ... in a few weeks... I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

Do for others...

"So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." - Matthew 7:12

My good friend Josh Phipps (pictured left) was recently featured in the Houston Chronicle for giving one of his kidney's to his boss. As I read the article I was reminded of the Golden Rule from Matthew 7. Talk about living out the truth of God's Gospel! I am proud of my friend and grateful for his godly example.

You can check out the article by clicking here.

A Convicting Reminder...

Context:

Judson was invited by a congregation in the U.S. to share after returning from 30 years in the mission field in Burmah. They were disappointed with his presentation, because he did not tell stories about his trip, rather he talked about Jesus.

Quote:

"My business is to preach the gospel of Christ; and when I can speak at all, I dare not trifle with my commission. When I looked upon those people to-day, and remembering where I should next meet them, how could I stand up and furnish food to vain curiosity—tickle their fancy with amusing stories, however decently strung together on a thread of religion? That is not what Christ meant by preaching the gospel. And then how could I hereafter meet the fearful charge, 'I gave you one opportunity to tell them of ME; you spent it in describing your own adventures!'"

- Judson, the missionary to Burmah as quoted by Charles Spurgeon in his sermon The Blood

Humility: The Chinless Wonder

A week ago (Friday, December 28th) Steph kindly reminded me that I needed to trim my beard. I guess it was getting a bit unruly...



So, as I normally do before I shower, I pulled out the trusty beard trimmers and began trimming the beard, well, hacking it really. I started with a 3 guard and things were going nicely. However, when I got to my mustache I wanted a bit of a closer trim with some detailing. The detailing went too far and my mustache became way too thin. So, I shaved off the mustache. That left me with a hefty Abe Lincoln look.

I decided then to go back to the chin-goatee, but as I was trying to form it the sides kept being uneven. I trimmed and trimmed. Finally I was left with a soul patch. It looked ridiculous. So, I shaved off my beard. MISTAKE!



I had not shaved my chin in over 5 years. I had vaguely remembered that I had a smaller chin, but was quickly reminded why I was given the nickname 'The Chinless Wonder.'

After this happened I heard Braelyn knocking on the bathroom door, so I opened it and she stood there looking at me like I was a stranger. She then began crying and she was scared of me the rest of the evening. Stephanie saw me and said, "I said just to trim it not shave it!" I felt like an ugly duckling... hehe...

So, here a sit a week later, growing back my facial hair and humbled by the reminder that facial hair for me is more than just a nice touch, but a vain necessity. Thankfully, I come from a hairy family, so here's to the new beard...