Category: reflections

Hair Spray

Well… not quite. This post is more of a vent about hair cuts than hair sprays (but I bet it got your attention ;-)). I’m sure some don’t like whiners and complainers – I don’t either – but that’s why I have a blog – so I can vent here and you don’t have to listen to it later ;-).

I love my barber. Jerry at Elm Street Barber does a great job, he knows me by name, it’s always a good experience (unless I try to tell him I want something different and then we run into problems – usually my fault). He gives me a great HOT shave with a straight edge blade. He makes sure I’m clean when I walk out and gives me a spray of aftershave before I get up.

Jerry always asks about my wife, my job, my dog. We talk a little politics, we talk a little pop-culture. I always feel good when I leave my barber.

I loved when I lived in downtown Waxahachie and I could walk a block to get to my barber. I didn’t even mind driving 5 minutes to get to my favorite barber when we lived on the north side of town.

But now… we live in Red Oak. That’s a good 15 minutes away from my favorite barber. So the last two times I’ve needed a few hairs cut I’ve tried places closer to home. Here’s what I’ve learned and things I don’t want when getting my hair cut:

  • A short fade doesn’t mean the same thing from barber to barber/hair stylist
  • A little off the top doesn’t mean the same thing from barber to barber/hair stylist
  • I don’t want to have to set an appointment to come back – and I don’t want to set an appointment for a haircut tomorrow that I need to day
  • I don’t want my barber to smoke 3 cigarettes before I walk in
  • I don’t want to get sick from my visit to the barber – if you’re sick – stay home! I don’t want to hear your sniffles in my ear
  • I don’t want to walk over other people’s hair when I come in. If you’re sprawled out in your chair with a blanket over you before I walk in – you probably have time to sweep the floor
  • If you’re going to advertise a HOT SHAVE you should at least use a warm wet towel to prep my neck and the shaving cream should stay warm between the shaving cream canister and my neck
  • Also, if you’re going to advertise a HOT SHAVE use a towel rather than a cheap paper towel to clean my neck afterwards and use a straight edge single blade rather than a Bic razar
  • I don’t want my barber to clean up my face with their hands either. Spend a few bucks and get a nice duster and/or hook up a hose to an air compressor to clean me off

I think that’s about it. Jerry I’m sorry I’ve forsaken you. I’ll be back next month.

Merry Christmas!

The Christmas holiday/vacation has officially begun.
I won’t be blogging again until at least the 26th of December.
Twittering and e-mail will be limited as well.
Gonna spend some good time with family and friends – you should too.
Turn the computer off – turn on some great tunes and enjoy the Christmas season.

To you and yours! Merry Christmas!….

wait – hold on…. Remy Walker just arrived into the world. Mother Dollye and baby are doing fine… stand by on the weight says our reporter in the field, Matt…. well he’s taking to long – you’ll have to track him down yourself.

Merry Christmas!

what’s your credibility rating?

This morning at the What-A-Study, Brian asked, “what’s your credibility rating?”

When you think about credibility, what comes to mind? What causes a person to gain credibility, or lose credibility? When you think about Scripture you can probably name a number of folks who had some great credibility, and those who didn’t. You can probably think of folks in your own life who have great credibility with you – and those who don’t. Where would you rank on a scale of 1-10?

Brian pointed out that even the Apostle Paul had to raise his credibility rating. If you think about it, he was coming in as an outsider. He was someone totally opposed to Christianity and now he shows up wanting to work hand in hand with the disciples. Maybe we should check his letter of recommendation a little closer.

Here’s what Paul wrote to the Thessalonians (from the Message):

1-2 So, friends, it’s obvious that our visit to you was no waste of time. We had just been given rough treatment in Philippi, as you know, but that didn’t slow us down. We were sure of ourselves in God, and went right ahead and said our piece, presenting God’s Message to you, defiant of the opposition.

3-5 God tested us thoroughly to make sure we were qualified to be trusted with this Message. Be assured that when we speak to you we’re not after crowd approval—only God approval. Since we’ve been put through that battery of tests, you’re guaranteed that both we and the Message are free of error, mixed motives, or hidden agendas. We never used words to butter you up. No one knows that better than you. And God knows we never used words as a smoke screen to take advantage of you.

6-8 Even though we had some standing as Christ’s apostles, we never threw our weight around or tried to come across as important, with you or anyone else. We weren’t aloof with you. We took you just as you were. We were never patronizing, never condescending, but we cared for you the way a mother cares for her children. We loved you dearly. Not content to just pass on the Message, we wanted to give you our hearts. And we did.

9-12 You remember us in those days, friends, working our fingers to the bone, up half the night, moonlighting so you wouldn’t have the burden of supporting us while we proclaimed God’s Message to you. You saw with your own eyes how discreet and courteous we were among you, with keen sensitivity to you as fellow believers. And God knows we weren’t freeloaders! You experienced it all firsthand. With each of you we were like a father with his child, holding your hand, whispering encouragement, showing you step-by-step how to live well before God, who called us into his own kingdom, into this delightful life. (1 thes 2:1-9)

A few things to consider as we think about our own credibility:

  • Paul served sacrificially (vs 1-2) he didn’t show up and suddenly hope doing one or two good things would make him credible. it took time and sacrifice.
  • Paul constantly checked his motives (vs 3-5) – Paul continually checked his motives with God to ensure he was working and sacrificing for the right reasons. He didn’t work to please man – but God.
  • Paul was willing to do right even without credit (v 6) – that can be a hard one. it’s easy to hope that others will see our good deeds and tell everyone about it – but can we still do good without credit. will you still wash the dishes or fold the laundry for your wife even if she doesn’t recognize it for weeks on end?
  • Paul was selfless, grace-driven and caring for others (vs 7-8) – Something that stands out in that passage, “We loved you dearly. Not content to just pass on the Message, we wanted to give you our hearts.” As Christians our goal is to share the Gospel. But Paul says that despite that calling he wasn’t content just converting people. He shared his heart. Reminds me of Bullhorn Man. Are we simply so enthralled in converting people that we don’t recognize the hurting that’s around us? Are we so concerned about sharing the Gospel that we forget to live it? Sure I can go to Austin Street and share the Gospel, but I don’t have any credibility with those folks until I recognize they don’t have a bed to sleep in or a coat to keep them warm. They may ultimately need the Gospel, but we must also be aware of their physical and emotional conditions as well.
  • Paul was consistent in his hard work (v9) – he labored and labored and labored, not losing sight of his goal.

So what about you? How is your credibility with your wife, husband, children, friends, boss and the stranger on the street? How would you rate? How would you rate me?

5ive things I’ve learned while riding DART

With my new job I’ve been riding DART to work everyday (well almost) and I thought I’d share some of the things I’ve learned on my own – that the DART website didn’t tell me.

5. You must have exact change. Unlike the DART Rail stations that offer machines to buy tickets, Park and Ride stations do not – and you’ll need exact change to get on the bus.
4. Buses make more stops than advertised. On the route for my bus the brochure and website only show 3 stops in downtown. They make A LOT more stops than that. It makes things easier I’m sure for most, unless you’re one of the final stops along the route and the bus is already full.
3. Some bus drivers think they’re in NASCAR. You’ll rarely get the same bus driver on the same route at the same time every day – so be warned – some will drive like NASCAR – some will drive like your grandmother.
2. The buses are clean and well kept. I’ve been told this and experienced the clean rail lines but never really personally experienced how clean the buses were. My only bus experiences were on chartered buses so everyone knows they’ll be clean.
1. Lots of interesting people ride DART. You never know who may be riding next to you. A lawyer, doctor, single mom, married father of 5. You can meet lots of interesting people – that is if they’re willing to carry on a conversation with you.

and as a bonus: DART needs more service coming to Glenn Heights and Ellis County. From my view, the bus into downtown stays full almost every trip. A couple other bus options (including weekend service) and/or light rail would be AWESOME!