My cousins Teh Pecktol via their clever and entertaining daily vlogs made me aware of something apparently referred to as “No-Shave November,” an annual ritual where…there’s no shaving…during the month of November. I thought it was cool, but goofy, whatever. I have been very lazy in the last few months, not shaving but once a week, leaving me looking grizzly and “dirty hippie”-esque by Sunday evening when I’d break the razor out. The first week of November went by and I still didn’t shave…I got lazier and continued to not shave. Now that we’re starting on the third week of November, and I still haven’t shaved, I’ve decided that I’m going to just say that it’s “No-Shave November” and suddenly I’m a participator. If only those teachers from elementary school who gave me a “U” (unsatisfactory) in participation could see me now!

Anyway, on with the show. The return of Church Boy. Today’s journal entry assignment correlating with “Appointment 3” was to write about an area of my spiritual life that I would like to grow in. That entry follows:

“There are so many areas I feel I need to grow spiritually. I have done much better in many areas of my life, such as strengthening my faith in times of worry and anxiety, making my life much less stressful*. After today’s service at church, discussing the sharing of faith and not being ashamed of it, I thought about how little I share my faith aside from my weekly bog entry. I want to sacrifice myself a bit in an attempt to help those who are less fortunate than myself. I have taken steps toward goal by requesting my parents (and Erin’s parents) to take the money they want to spend on us for Christmas and donating it to a church that has a community / national / international ministry to help the homeless or children living in poverty around the holidays, but there needs to be more.

“I’m starting to feel like I’m being called to help the homeless as my faith grows deeper and my roots grow stronger. It’s no secret that we all have a talent, a passion or a calling given to us by God, even if we don’t realize it yet, that He wants us to use to glorify His name. I spent 7 years of my life waiting tables, and while I don’t miss working there, I readily admit that I enjoyed that type of work, and I’m confident that the Lord put me in that position for so long so I would be able to use that passion and skill to help those in need one day. Here’s to hoping I can follow up on that calling with an opportunity to provide a blessing for someone who truly needs one more than I do.”

*Right here I had written “Strategy” instead of “Stressful” but marked it out…I should have used it, thought, a la “I rarely drive steam boats, dad”

Also, non-assignment related, I’m in the process of getting one of my favorite bands, Showbread, to play in Knoxville during their next tour! More word on that as soon as I learn more about it, myself!

Here they are, raw rocking your face off:

“Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all He has done.”
-Colossians 2:7

Enjoy today’s haiku:

My wife: so pretty
So lovely, intelligent
My best friend ever