Sometimes you just don't fit in

I recently tried an experiment.  It wasn't conducted in lab and I definitely didn't follow the Scientific Method that I used to teach kids in OE (Outdoor Education).

I only used 2 things: a razor and some confidence.

Relax, all my skin is intact and I'm not having suicidal thoughts up here on Tick Hill.  

After participating in No-Shave-November, my beard was really starting to get to me.  But instead of shaving it all off and fitting in nicely with society, I decided to try out the "Fu Manchu".  My goal was to see if people would take me seriously with this trimmed set of Handle Bars on my face.  I didn't change anything else about myself.  I wore the same clothes and acted normal.  Here's what I discovered:

1. People stared.............a lot.  You would have thought I had two arms growing out of my nostrils with some of the intense glances I got.  
   
2. It doesn't fit with my job.  I deal primarily with Youth Pastors, who are infamous for the Soul Patch, Goatee, Chin Straps, etc.  But the Fu screams out, I'M LIVIN ON THE EDGE!!
   
3. Other than Cops and Truck Drivers, no one else had one........which made me stick out like a traffic cone.
4. People thought I was joking at first, but when they saw that I was serious about it, situations got awkward.  Classic example of a Snickers commercial, "Want to get away?"

The only other time I've felt out of place was when I went to Kenya for a month and little black kids would stare at me and tug at any kind of hair within reach.  I felt more like a God than anything else.  They were fascinated.  But evidently I took it too far in the Northeast Corner of Oklahoma, where cut off shirts and mullets still reign supreme. 

Some Inspiring Words

I have this song that I cannot stop listening to because the lyrics haunt me and inspire me at the same time. Many of you know my friend Spencer was a musician (he passed away over a year ago) and how much his music means to me. Well, I got a hold of some music I hadn't heard in a while and I thought I'd share a certain part.

It comes from the song, "So Long Goodbyes".

And you're screaming down a hole that cannot hold your well informed diatribes
Your search for hope is buried low beneath the load of your burning critic eyes
You're happy with comfortable life, but I would cry some tears to see you come alive
And behind it all not scared to fall, but wondering what would happen if you could fly......

And don't you know that could fly?

So say so long to those goodbyes, that you have said so many times before.......
And you're saying them once again
Now turn around and break the trend, face the sun, and lean into the wind......
And the wind of change can be your friend
My friend now say hello to life and hope and second chances that you could never win......
That's why they're not worth it all
So fill the whole and walk away, show them mistakes and grace go hand in hand.


To me, it's such a powerful song that always reminds me of God and how he wants me to live my life. I hope you find something in the songs that you listen to as well.

Attention Everybody, I'm officially trendy

Well folks, I've gone and done it.....I've succumbed to the coolness of the world and brought myself up to speed so no one can doubt my ability to keep up with the rest of the mid/upper 20's in America.

I bought an iPod Touch.  And not the small one (8GB), no, I bought the Big Bertha that screams out "My life cannot fit into 16GB!".  So now I have 32GB of space to fill with music, movies, videos, podcasts, photos, applications, etc.

It was a tough day on the wallet though, but hey, I'm a big boy now and I'm out of debt, so I can throw down some dough on a pretty cool gadget.  I must say, I'm quite impressed that I finally did it.  I'm usually about as tight as a pair of jeans on a emo/skater kid when it comes to spending money.  I'm a sale rack kind of man and I don't like waste, so there is some considerable thought put into everything I buy, even socks and undies.

I think my biggest fear is that I will get bored of it, like any other toy.  Honestly, I don't plan on carrying this thing on my hip everywhere I go.  But I do hope to use it to it's fullest capabilities.  I'm trying to figure out the whole Apps thing and find some cool ones that I can play with.

Which brings up the question, Does anyone have any suggestions for music, Applications, videos, etc that I can fill my iPod brain with?  Fill me in on the cool things of the earth that I have been missing out on.  Please, I don't want to be a loser 26 year old.

*****Notice - If you are a 20 something and do not yet have an iPod Touch or iPhone, do not take this Blog seriously.  You are not a loser and never will be.  

Blogging Perspective

When I entered the world of Blogging, I was proud of myself for wanting to pour out what is really on my heart or mind like it was some kind of confessional.  But I've come to find that I am not as innovative or original like some other bloggers out there.  Which immediately makes me a little self conscious or takes me back to those days as a junior high kid who wasn't cool enough to do all the other stuff that all the other boys could do (I could suck my stomach in so far that I could touch my spine!).

I guess it's just weird to me how little things like a blog can make you think about yourself how you stack up against other people.  It's stupid really.  I've sat many times at my computer trying to figure out something cool to write about.  Lame, I know.  Don't judge.

But then again, here I am pouring out my thoughts.  What a conundrum.  

I love blogging and I think I've learned a little about myself in the process.  I'm putting my thoughts out there just as I am.  I can't pretend to be a poet or try and act like I live the most fascinating life.  I mean, I live in Quapaw, OK.  No offense fellow Quapawnians (Go Tigers!).

I honestly don't even know if anyone reads this.  I'd like to think that people check it weekly to see what's going on in my life, but that would be a wee bit pretentious of me.  Maybe I'll just do it for the sake of doing it.  

I hope you don't want to stab yourself in the eyes after reading this.  If you do/did, seek immediate medical help.

Suprised by Joy

Well folks, a beautiful day spent driving around my land with Kristen Collie, my wonderful Aggie co-worker, got even better when we stumbled upon a piece of land that once beared a house and family. Now, all that is left is an old garden, some sheds with tons of snakes, and you guessed it.....

A Trampoline

It was like a beacon of light. I couldn't help myself but to go and jump back into my youth. I always wanted one, but knew we couldn't have one because we moved around so much. To have one now is like a breath of fresh air. I spoke to the owner of the land to see if he would mind me taking it to my house and he didn't even realize it was there. He assumed everything back there was just trash.

Just goes to show you, one man's trash is another man's treasure.

I don't care what you say.....

I love Minivans. I can't help it. They are so incredibly user friendly and come with the coolest amenities.

Yes, I do realize I am 26, single, and most of all, a male. But I don't care. I am counting down the days until I get one.

I need a new book

Help me out here folks.  I have developed more and more of a love for reading since graduating.  I guess I just have more time.  Every morning I wake up and read for about an hour and then go about my day.  Usually, it's some kind of Christian book that teaches me or enlightens me on an issue.  I love starting my day off with God and wrapping myself around a concept or story about Him.  But I'm always up for anything. 

But I need a new one as I am finishing up my latest book, "What Paul Really Meant"

So I need some suggestions.  To give you an idea of what I have read lately, here's a quick list:

What Paul Really Meant

Serve God, Save The Planet

Financial Peace

When God Writes Your Love Story

Celebration of Discipline

I Don't Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist

Help a brotha out here