Greetings to you all. I have some very sad news to share, I am completely clean shaven. I had the goatee for a while, and then yesterday I shaved it down to the mustache for a day. I got quite a few comments on the mustache, but not many were compliments. So this morning I shaved everything off, even my side burns, and my plan is to let the whole beard come back in as one length. This is the first time since I was 19 that I have had zero facial hair. I do not like the way I look without facial hair. It doesn't even seem like I am myself, because I do count my beard as part of my identity. However, it will grow back and everything will be back to normal.
I had a great weekend with Erin. Friday night we went on a double date with her friend and her friend's fiance Her friend's fiance, Tim, is a really cool guy. He golfs, drinks good whiskey, loves sports, and is just a down to earth guy. I think we will get along great as we will spend more time together in the future. Then Saturday her and I ran a few errands after I got off from work, and then went to the Schlafly's brewery tour. She had never gone, but this was my third time. Then Saturday night, my friend Stein had a Ground Hog Get Down party. Apparently he has wanted to have a party for ground hog day for a long time. It finally just happened to land on a Saturday so he finally got to throw his party. It was a blast. He made chocolate pudding with crumbled Oreo's on top, (dirt dessert) and put gummy bears in it with just their heads sticking out so they looked like ground hogs. A lot of our friends were there, both married couples and single guys. Again, it was a lot of fun and Erin got to meet a lot of people for the first time. Then we got a bunch of snow. I didn't go to field work Sunday morning because I wasn't sure if the roads would be clear since it snowed all night, but also because the main highway out of town was closed for construction and I didn't want to have to try to find the detour route in bad conditions. Pastor said they had three inches in Highland and there were very few people actually in church. I did go to the late service at a church close to the seminary with Erin. Then she headed back and I took my usual Sunday afternoon nap. My friend Sam and his wife Liz had me over for their Super Bowl party. So it was definitely a good weekend.
My thought for the day comes from Systems class today. Even though it was a heated debate that seemed to be mostly a waste of time to me, it did lead me to thinking about one thing in particular. The conversation went in so many different directions I do not even know how to describe it to you. However, one topic we got on was how do we know if someone truly believes in their heart the Gospel message of Jesus. Basically the debate came down to God can look in our hearts and know if we have faith or not, but we do not have that luxury. We as pastors cannot look into someone’s heart and know if they have the true faith or not. So how do we know if someone is a believer or not? We discuss with them if they believe or not, we get to know the person, we see how they live their life, and help them to understand their faith. So what I got out of this should it be questionable if we are a “believer” or not? Shouldn't we live our lives in a way that let’s everyone know without doubt that we are Christians? I know this is easier said than done, and it is a message that is heard quite often. And yet, how often do we take it to heart and make sure the way we are living, the way we interact with people, the way we talk, etc. truly is always in a Christian way? There are songs about they will know we are Christians by our love, and motto's of a loving, kind Christian attitude, and even the old bracelets of WWJD. All of these are reminders that we should live a life that can be seen and heard in a way that gives the glory to God. We strive day in and day out to live a life that is in a manner that everything we do gives glory and honor to His name. So, it’s an old message, nothing I am taking credit for. However, it’s one that as sinners trying to live a life of love in a present evil age cannot hear too often. The more we stop and intentionally think about living this way, the easier it will become to actually be able to do it. We do not do this because we think it is what saves us. But we do it because it is what He who has already saved us has called us to do. All Praise be to Him who calls us as His redeemed children to live a life of love, the life that was made a perfect example by our Lord Jesus Christ!
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the blessings you so freely and abundantly bestow upon us. We ask that we may always receive them with thankful hearts. We also ask that You give us You Spirit to strengthen us, guide us, and help us to lead a life that praises, glorifies, and honors Your holy name. We pray this in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with You and Your Spirit, one God, now and forever more. Amen.
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