Lessons from a Razor>>Joey Shaw

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Pastor Sam Shaw’s son, Joey was in India recently and was cut with a straight razor while being attacked during a robbery.? Here is what he wrote about the incident:

On November 8, 2009 in South Asia, I and two other pastors from The Austin Stone, were robbed and attacked by a small gang of South Asian youth. Unexpectedly, one of these youth sliced my left cheek with a straight razor. The wound was 5 inches long and an inch deep. It spanned from about my left sideburn to the left corner of my mouth. Fortunately, the two other men with me were physically unharmed. We ran for safety in the middle of the city, pleaded with locals for help, and finally ended up in the emergency room at a local hospital where a doctor stitched up my face with three layers of stitches.

After arriving back home, I realized that this attack was a catalyst to great spiritual and emotional growth. After a week long of reflection, I have outlined below the lessons that I have learned. I hope my story and these lessons will encourage others to radical obedience to Jesus and mobilize them to the mission of God.

Amazing stuff!? Make sure you read the rest of the lessons here.

ASCC – God Gospel Mission Blog.

AmeriCANs: Family’s Mission to Serve – ABC News

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Check out the video we showed in the beginning of our service yesterday!? I hope that this begins to make us think of creative ways to show God’s love to others!

AmeriCANs: Family’s Mission to Serve – ABC News.

Happy Birthday Jenny!

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Today is Jenny’s birthday! I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have her as my bride! Our song is “She’s Got a Way” by Billy Joel. ?I think the words to that song really speak to what she means to me on this special day!

She’s got a way about her
I don’t know what it is
But I know that I can’t live without her

She’s got a way of pleasin’
I don’t know why it is
But there doesn’t have to be a reason
Anyway

She’s got a smile that heals me
I don’t know what it is
But I have to laugh when she reveals me

She’s got a way of talkin’
I don’t know what it is
But it lifts me up when we are walkin’
Anywhere

She comes to me when I’m feelin’ down
Inspires me without a sound
She touches me and I get turned around

She’s got a way of showin’
How I make her feel
And I find the strength to keep on goin’

She’s got a light around her
And everywhere she goes
A million dreams of love surround her
Everywhere

She comes to me when I’m feelin’ down
Inspires me without a sound
She touches me and I get turned around

She’s got a smile that heals me
I don’t know what it is
But I have to laugh when she reveals me

She’s got a way about her
I don’t know what it is
But I know that I can’t live without her
Anyway

Does this make me look fat…or gray?

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Just found a new program that is A-Mazing!!? It is called Evernote.? You can go check it out at Evernote.com.? Basically, it is the Holy Grail of notes software that I have been looking for both my desktop and iPhone. I use Notes on my iPhone quite a bit, but it was a pain to sync and I know have three of the same entry, for example, in my Mail program.

What is great about it is the fact that you can dump just about any medium into Evernote and it helps you keep everything organized.? You can clip from the web, cut and paste text, email to Evernote, or even Tweet to @myEN and it will place the Twitter tweet in your notes!

Funny thing happened while I was looking over the program…it has a button that opens the iSight camera (on my MacBook Pro) to take a picture or video note.? I haven’t looked at myself in the ol’ iSight camera in quite some time…and I must say…that thing must add 30 lbs. to my face.? I’ve got a pretty hot looking double chin going!? Then, as I turn to the side…I get a look at what Ronnie calls my “white walls.”? I have “a touch of gray” in my hair these days.? Really, I think it isn’t as bad as the picture would make you believe…probably just really bad lighting in my office!!? I actually don’t mind it because I have always had such a baby face.? Pretty nice, huh?

Got me thinking.? Isn’t it funny how we always are concerned about outward appearances?? @KStratt and I were talking on the way back from a pastor’s deal this afternoon about this.? He is a whole lot more secure in himself than I am, because he is able to not worry at all what people think of him.? I am such a wuss when it comes to that kind of stuff.? I always want to be looked upon as someone who is pretty sharp and has it all together.

My graying hair is kind of ironic.? I really wanted to look older when I was in my twenties.? Especially being a student pastor (they are always the knucklehead/screwballs that are immature in every way), I have always wanted to be looked upon as a guy with purpose and a good leader.? Gray hair was one of those milestones that I had this crazy thought in my head that would help me to “arrive.” Now that I am 36 and turning a little bit gray, I am wanting to look young again.

Anyway, isn’t it funny how we are always caught up on what other people think rather than God? I mean, if I were really honest, sometimes I am more driven by people of quite a loss less significance than the creator of the universe.? I am much more concerned about what a colleague or church member thinks of me than my Savior.? Pretty crazy.? That is not to say that we should just do our own thing all of the time and not worry about how we act, but what we should be concerned about, above all, is the love and acceptance of our Savior.

So, does this iSight make me look fat?? Yeah, probably.? And graying? Yep.? But that shouldn’t make a difference in how I feel about myself.? Easy to say or write, but more difficult to actually put into practice in my life.? I am working on it though.? Kind of like the old SNL skit…”I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and dog gone it; people like me!”? I guess it is more realistic to say “irregardless of whether other people like me…dog gone it, my Savior loves me!”? And that is enough.

How about you??

Today ? samshawonline

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Read this today on my google reader from Sam Shaw’s blog…a great word for all of us!

The late Ray Stedman once said that every morning when he awakened, he reminded himself of this thought:

I am part of the plan of God. God is working all things to a great and final purpose on earth, and I am part of it. What I do today has purpose and significance and meaning This is not a meaningless day I am going through. Even the smallest incident, the most apparently insignificant word or relationship, is involved in His great plan. Therefore, all of his has meaning and purpose. (source lost)

Today ? samshawonline.

Why Water?

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oneinsixcleanwaterI honestly don’t even know where to put these statistics as I sit in my nice warm house with our own personal well out back working just fine. Some info from the charitywater.org website…[emphasis mine]

WHY WATER.
Right now, 1.1 billion people on the planet don’t have access to safe, clean drinking water. That’s one in six of us.WHO WE ARE.
charity: water is a non profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations. We give 100% of the money raised to direct project costs, funding sustainable clean water solutions in areas of greatest need. Just $20 can give one person in a developing nation clean water for 20 years.

GET INVOLVED.
 Learn how you can help here >

I heard an interview on the Catylist leadership podcast yesterday about the story of Scott Harrison, the founder of charitywater.org. Scott’s Story is an amazing story of the power of a vision to change the world.

I think that we often just gloss over these numbers, especially 1.1 Billion people.? To put some of the numbers into perspective…1 million seconds=almost 12 days…1 Billion seconds is almost 32 years!! Unbelievable.

What would happen if all of the people in the Church would get on board and try to solve this major problem in the world?? I absolutely love the 100% model of Charity Water…no administrative costs…100% goes to bring fresh water to those without.? If this charity is any example, I think the Church has an excellent chance to make major progress in a short time–if we would focus on the goal.

Question:? What are some water charities that you have given to or you know are doing a great job as well?

How to Carve a Pumpkin on an Albino Farm

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My buddy Jeff Houghton wrote a hilarious bit on a Springfield legend…and our church photographer and all around great guy, Taylor Orr sent me a picture of his award-winning carved pumpkin! Enjoy a late Halloween post!

Taylor’s Pumpkin…

DO-IT-YOURSELF_1

Do It Yourself Pumpkin Carving – 10 Easy Steps to an all New You!

and Jeff’s spooky spoof…

For Halloween, here is an article I wrote for the satire site, Fair City News. If you?re from out of town, there is a legend regarding a spooky place called the Albino Farm north of Springfield.

ALBINO FARM TO OPEN TANNING SALON

Springfield, MO?Legendary spook site, the Albino Farm at Springlawn Farm, has a brand new surprise for the area, a tanning salon. Albi-No-More is set to open this Saturday, the 31st. The so-called Albino Farm has for years been notorious in legend for being haunted, by either an albino ghost caretaker, or an albino ghost family, depending on who is telling you the story.The present day owner of the property, Jerry Overholser, thought it was time for a change. ?I?m plum tired of teenagers sneaking around on the property,? explained Overholser. ?I figured if I can?t get the teenagers out of the albino farm, I?ll get the albino?s out of the albino farm.?Overholser is hoping to begin a different perspective on the property.

Albi-No-More is planned to have four standard beds, one Mystic spray-on tanning room, and one super powered machine designed specifically for modern day albinos called Burnt Toast. The interior is decorated with inspirational before and after pictures, with a picture of an albino on the left and a picture of the same albino glowing red on the right. Albinos, by the way, will get a special punch card for one free tan after enduring nine. At the grand opening they plan to give away Oreos, with the cream licked out to the first 100 customers.
Standing near the newly asphalted parking lot, teenager Troy Spelster, is not in favor of the new plan. ?I?ve had some of my best times on the Albino Farm. Ain?t nothing scary about a copper bronzed ghost chasing you.?
According to Overholser that?s exactly the idea, ?A brand new, well lit steel building with office furniture, a wide variety of oils, and watts and watts of UV rays won?t scare off anybody. Well, unless you?re scared of cancer I suppose.?

I Spilled Miracle Whip on my Vest ? The Mystery Hour.

TRUNK OR TREAT: FP Carthage Style!

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We had an awesome turnout, and more importantly, we had a blast at our Trunk or Treat last night! ?We gave out a ton of candy to kids and had a whole lot of people there. ?Here are some pics that Taylor Orr, our photographer, sent me of the event. ?Here are some of my favorites. ?There are more from all three FP Trunk or Treat locations as well at this link…TRUNK OR TREAT BEST.