My Plans for Christmas '08

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A Fashion Update.


Ok, I really creeped myself out writing that. I'll try to stop that kind of stuff.

Here's a quick update on those razors. If your an avid straight razoree, please forgive the bluntness of my naivete.

So I got my razors, and 3 of the 6 were in pretty decent condition. One has a broken hinge, another is almost rusted through on the blade edge, and another has a very loose hinge. The one with the loose hinge is actually the one which seems to be in the best of condition as far as how new and clean it looks, so I'm thinking I will still try to use it since I don't foresee any disasters taking place on account of a loose hinge pin.

A few days after the blades arrived, I received another package holding shaving soaps, a strop, and a hone. At this point I was able to start bringing the razor blades up to speed sharpness-wise. I don't know what I was expecting, but I definitely didn't have to do as much work as I thought I would, but at the same time the blades didn't seem as sharp as I would have thought. The only way I knew how to do anything is thanks to youtube videos, which told me my blades were ready even when I wouldn't have assumed such. But they have worked, and they have worked well.

So this brings up an obvious discrepancy. Its November. No-Shave November. So I cheated. But common, it was my birthday, and I started No-Shave a little early anyway, so it had been a month. Please forgive me. I have used two of the blades, and I have had no Sweeney Todd type accidents befall me. I know it sounds dangerous, but I'm actually surprised at how careless I can be with these blades. I have barely even nicked myself enough to see any red. So things are going great there, but I am faced with a harsh reality. I love growing facial hair. But now I love straight razor shaving. This can only mean more stress for myself in the future.


On another note, I did something that most would be ashamed to admit. I clicked a facebook ad. What can I say, it was about tailored suits! But seriously, this is no regular "check out our wares" type of company! They have a treasure chest of amazing men's clothing information, and a library even! So please, if you have any interest in dressing nicely and being a man, check this out!

A Tailored Suit

Their Blog

A note on this finest of holiday, when it is interesting to think about the spiritual nature of such an event.

Now Thanksgiving is not what I would call a religious holiday. It may be connected historically with the story of some new neighbors with sweet brass buckle shoes and some American Indian chefs offering their most succulent of local recipes, but this story simply tacks on the idea of God being involved to add a reasonable conclusion for the name. I'll come back to the name.

But I am truly convinced that society since the establishment of this as a national holiday has not taken any queue from the religious frame of the original tale. I would hold that only the most devote of atheists would even think to object to this holiday in any way. I wouldn't be surprise to see an entire extended family of atheists using Thanksgiving as a time for family reunion. I assume such families exist.

Regardless, Thanksgiving isn't a very well conceived name for most. The name is so simple, just two words unnaturally combined together. In any other situation any grammarian would object greatly. The first word is given a few minutes of fame at most thoughtful or traditional Thanksgiving events. Given, this isn't much, but its a start.

But giving.

The word "giving" is simple to analyze, a first year English student could tackle it. Its a form of "give" which in any form implies two parties involved. So the avoided or ignored question becomes simply, "Who are you giving to?" Most are not really giving to anyone on Thanksgiving. Some are giving to friends and family, or trying to convince themselves and/or others to the same effect. But such a very few are giving to the One whom they can truly thank for being at the end of any train of actions. The giving is the key. Is anyone really giving at all? And to whom?

This holiday is such a great opportunity. In my opinion(which shouldn't sway you too much) it is one of the greatest opportunities for the Christian to honor God in a holiday for in modern American culture, and the greatest natural opportunity for the Gospel. I mean, common, Christmas is not a holiday to be simply dismisses. Almost without fail, all recognized holiday have a grand opportunity to glorify God within them. However, take a look at the modern state of things. Christmas is a day with a history of confusion. Halloween literally has a greater Christian history than Christmas. But today, Christmas in society is mostly either commercialized, or people complaining about commercialization and begging off for a more traditional outlook. But Linus isn't wrong in this.

Christmas is a great time to reflect and be thankful. In this respect it is the same as Thanksgiving. Easter is perhaps the greatest of Christian holiday opportunities. It is a day widely remembered to be more about Christ's death than eggs and sweet new clothes. But my contention lies the mostly greatly in the missional opportunity within Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is an opportunity to thank God in a greater spectrum than Christmas or Easter, although I would hold that Easter is a needed opportunity to focus more greatly on the greatest of issue in life. Thanksgiving gives us the chance to be purposeful for an entire day, or even an entire holiday break, to think about how infinitely blessed are we. It also creates a great situation for ministry opportunity. A small amount of focus on a Christian's part can provide thought-provoking and life altering insight and perspective for those surrounding him.

At this point I am reminded of one of my favorite classic movie characters, one Elwood P. Dowd. Jimmy Stewart portrayed this slightly delusional character, bent on seeing the good in every situation and person. Throughout the movie Harvey, he asks everyone he meets over for dinner. From the cab driver to the parolee bum to the psychiatric physicians meant to "cure" him. The movie ends before this dinner, but I would find the greatest of joys in seeing this mish-mash of acquaintances who are shown such affection by an almost-stranger. This would make a beautiful scene of Christian service on Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving provides a truly magnificent opportunity to glorify God not simply in remembrance or honoring thoughts, but in pro-active accomplishment of thankful service and true conversion to more appropriate mental frameworks.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I read today a message for a great friend who is a missionary to Ireland. In his Thanksgiving greetings he discussed how they miss their family but also feel so truly blessed in their current circumstances.

Being away this year myself, I won't get to see family whom I've missed out on for at least 6 months or so. It is interesting to me to think about the fact that those who are willing to take big leaps of faith for God are always put in this position. God does not take the faithful out of a place of discomfort to use them. He takes them from their homes, their families, and their comfortable surroundings, and He takes them somewhere that seems by far a downgrade in physical or emotional standards. But this is no discouragement for the Children of the Burning Heart. The true discouragement for these ones would be in resounding discord created in the deepest relationship of their existence. So within this truth lies the fact, that the greatest of blessings in all of human existence is to commune with God and live within the confines of His glory.

Those of us who live away from home for the right reasons must come to the conclusion that the ones we miss on Thanksgiving are far away simply because God's blessing can't all exist collinear in our lives. While we give thanks for the people God has blessed us with, we thank Him all the more for putting us in a place away from them, and all the closer to Him.

For those missing holidays with close ones because of larger purposes lived for, I love and miss my family as you all do and I thank God for them and all the more greatly for putting me in His will, which is the greatest of blessings! Thank you for your commitment to God!

This year, on my birthday today, I am personally inspired. On a day set aside to reflect, I find a desire to me a greater man. And it is in the stories of these modern men that I find a reflection of the man I want to be. Please, check out the Art Of Manliness Man Of The Year 2008 candidates, read their nominations, and vote for a manly man. Be encouraged, true manhood still shines brightly in the few places it remains!