callouses

evidence of my newly acquired skills - don't mock, I'm still honing them!

PST

Most of the time, it really sucks to live 2,3,6,8,9, and 13 1/2 hours behind most of my friends.

Except when I wake up in the morning I have emails from all of them because they've already started their day :)

I've realized that friends are like stocks: you should always keep a diverse portfolio of them. Kindred spirits, passing acquaintances, party buddies - the more kinds you have, the better the return.

noise

so this nature sounds guy said that in 1968, to get one full hour of pure nature sounds (no human-made noise), he'd have to record 15 hours (and edit the clips together).

today (like last year or something when he gave the quote), he has to record 2,000 hours. to get one hour's worth of pure nature sound.

I was challenged at this retreat I went on to turn off the noise - my radio, the tv, my own voice . . . and just listen to God speak in the silence. that is tough. but you know, it's something that refreshed my spirit more than sleep refreshes my body.

what voices do you listen to? do you show God that his voice is the most important one you listen to?

try turning off the radio when you drive to work today.

road trip

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This is where my brother and dad traveled yesterday and today.

They went a lot faster than they expected since the motorhome they thought they'd be driving broke down two miles from the house and they ended up just taking his Pontiac. Seemed like a huge setback at the time, considering that the motorhome was where my brother was going to live. Right now, he is probably arriving in Dallas with no clue where he will spend the next year sleeping.

On the other hand, the breakdown spurred on the amazingly compassionate staff of our church to call the school and churches in Dallas to locate affordable housing. Which led them to realize that they have contacts with a huge church in Dallas that has six mission pastors. Yes, SIX. Not a bad contact for a just-starting missionary to make.

Probably worth a broken-down motorhome and a scary road trip. When I mentioned to one of my friends that I thought living in a motorhome and not knowing where you'd be parking it sounded scary, he told me it sounded like a great adventure.

I hope my brother thinks like Luke :)

On another note, I found out that I have a new brother in Christ!!! Someone who lived in the residence hall I worked for in London. Someone I had a couple conversations with and planted a few seeds in. No matter if we plant, water, or reap, its still miraculous to watch. And I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate the new year.