Friday Funhouse PLUS 24 Hours Left in the Bearded Bloggers Campaign!

Today is the final day in the Bearded Bloggers campaign to raise money for Charity Water. The initial goal was to raise $1000 to help people living in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia and to do it by the end of the month.

At the time this post is being written, our current total is $910. We're so freaking close! I can't be content unless we hit the mark. I know we can do it. We have to!

Please CLICK HERE to make a small donation or, if you can afford it, make a BIG one! The goal was $1000, but how awesome would it be if we went over??

At any rate, I greatly appreciate those of you who have donated, and those of you have shared the mission with friends and family. 

On to the shenanigans:

T-minus Two Days until the Beard Bites the Dust!

This month marks the longest amount of time I've ever grown out a beard, without any kind of shaving or razor trimming.

There have been moments where I've felt fond of it. I've gotten a lot of compliments -- mainly from dudes who were impressed by the manliness of my face sweater.

But, my wife is super ready for me to bid the beard farewell. She hates it, mostly because of the itchiness. I won't lie, this month, I have received far fewer kisses.

It sucks, but it's for a good cause.

That cause, in case you forgot, was to bring awareness to the fact that the "Bearded Bloggers" are trying to raise $1000 for Charity Water by the end of the month.

Today is the 29th. Tomorrow is the 30th. That means we have essentially two more days to get this thing done.

At the time this post was being written, we've raised $840, leaving us a mere $160 away from our end goal. I'm so happy that we've done as well as we have, and that 42 people in the Tigray region of Ethiopia have received clean water because of the funds we've raised.

But we said we'd raise $1000, and we're not there yet. I'd give the remaining $160 myself if I had it. I don't, and you might not either, but you might have $10, and we can really use it.

Please -- give what you can. Share this post and this goal with as many friends and family members as you can. We're so close, guys! Help us cross the finish line.

GIVE HERE!!!

The Importance of Making an Impact

Day in and day out, most Americans go through their daily lives without making any kind of significant impact.

Think about it. Think about what you do every day. It's the same routine. You get up at the same time. You take your shower the same way. You take your coffee the same way. You drive the same route. You sit in the same seat. You do the same -- thing -- over -- and -- over -- and -- over --

AND OVER.

And when you clock out at 5, you'll get back in the car, make that same drive, have the same "How was your day?" conversation, eat a similar meal, wind down the same way you did yesterday, then you'll go to bed, sleep it off, wake up and do it all over again.

RINSE AND REPEAT.

I might be overstating things. You may have a very honorable and fulfilling profession, and this might not apply to you at all.

But for the majority of Americans, it's spot on.

Change all of that today. Do something real that will leave a lasting mark. For every $20 we receive, we are able to provide clean water for one person in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.

We've already raised $760. Our goal is to raise $1000 by the end of the month, and there's only a few days left to do that.

Would you help?

CLICK HERE TO MAKE AN IMPACT TODAY!

Bearded Bloggers Update: Week 4

It's coming down to the wire, people!

On November 1st, I came to you with a vision and a plea. That vision was to raise $1000 for Charity: Water by the end of the month. 

So far, we've raised $750, which is fantastic, but it wasn't the goal.

The goal is $1000, and I believe, wholeheartedly, that it is a goal we can still reach.

When I was coaching basketball, I always felt that it was important that I explained to my players WHY we did what we did, as opposed to just demanding their blind obedience.

Likewise, I think it's important that I explain WHY we're doing what we're doing, and why this is such a big deal.

Almost a billion people, around the world, live their daily lives without clean drinking water. Small children are waking up and bathing in disease infested waters, all while we camp overnight so we can buy massive TVs and computers.

Don't get me wrong. Massive TVs are awesome. But there's a huge crisis, and we're ignoring it.

Please take 3 minutes to watch this video:



I'm asking all of you to please consider giving $1, $5 or even $10. If you can give more, give more. Give as you feel led, but give something.

The rest of the week, I'm going to be solely focused on bringing you updates on the project. I'm excited about being able to post the good news, when we finally reach the mark.

I cannot do this without you! Please give. Please share this post on Twitter and on Facebook. Whatever you do, please don't just read this, then move on and do nothing. You're better than that.

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE! 

Friday Funhouse: Nov. 23, 2012

The Underrated Art of Being Grateful

If you've been reading my blog, you know that my family has hit a bit of a rough patch recently. It's been difficult and painful.

Due to our circumstances, we've had to do things we never wanted to do, namely, taking government assistance in multiple fashions (Food Stamps, WIC, Healthcare).

It is what it is. I can be embarrassed or bent out of a shape about it, if I choose to be. But, I can tell you one thing I won't be, and that's ungrateful.

It is humbling to have to get help from organizations. But I'm thankful the opportunities exist. I'm grateful for the volunteers and social services workers who have patiently answered questions and are actively helping us get back on our feet.

So, it blows my mind, when I see people who exhibit the exact opposite attitude.

Every time I go into the Social Services office, or any other government assistance location, I encounter groups of people who are rude to the staff and just nasty, in general.

I suppose life has made them jaded.

I don't want on hate on them. I know their unruliness comes from a place of hurt, but I just can't agree with that kind of behavior. The government doesn't owe me anything. The Social Services workers don't either.

I have vowed to not let this experience make me a bitter or nasty person. I plan on sticking to that.

You might not be on Food Stamps. You might not be in any kind of major need. Regardless, you will have an opportunity to say thank you to someone today.

Don't forget to say THANK YOU!

Bearded Bloggers Update: Week 3

Three weeks and counting, people.

That's how long it's been since a razor hath touched my face. No, I haven't taken a Nazarite vow. I'm involved with a group of awesome gents called the "Bearded Bloggers," and we're raising money for Charity Water, a foundation that helps provide clean drinking water to developing nations.

Our goal was to raise $1000 by the end of the November. It seemed ambitious, but we've already passed the halfway mark, raising $565, as of today (Nov. 19, 2012).

It would be really awesome if we could get to $600 by the end of the day. If you all give $1, we can do that and then some.

Just click HERE to make a tiny donation. Every little bit helps, and you can do it anonymously, if you so choose.

Do it now!

Friday Funhouse: Nov. 16, 2012

Celebrating Christmas Too Early

I'm a complete and utter nerd about Christmas. Seriously, it's a little out of control.

Every year, I go nuts with decorations. It borders on "Clark Griswald from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."

I love Christmas music. When the season comes, it's all I listen to. And it doesn't matter if it's even good. I would never listen to Kenny G, but if he's blowing out some "Silver Bells," I'm all in.

Christmas movies are a big deal with me, too. I watch them all. Every year, there are four or five of them that I absolutely have to watch before Christmas morning.

I love buying and giving Christmas presents. I don't hate getting them, but I've always enjoyed giving them so much more.

With all that said, you'd think I'd be a huge proponent of getting into the swing of the season as soon as possible, right?

Not so much.

Here's why.

If every day was Christmas, it wouldn't mean as much. If we kept up the decorations all year long, they wouldn't be special decor, they'd just be the background.

So, it bugs me to see it started earlier and earlier every year.

I've noticed, recently, that people have been putting up their Christmas trees and lights, etc., and posting it all over Facebook and Twitter. I just don't get it.

For me, it's always been the day after Thanksgiving. After that -- game on. But I want the Christmas holiday to have its own season. I don't want it to share facetime with Thanksgiving and Halloween.

But maybe that's just me.

When do you think it's okay to start celebrating Christmas?

The Dark Place

I wrote this a few nights ago, late, as I was trying to sleep. I've found myself having a lot of trouble turning my mind off at night, these days. There are just so many thoughts and emotions running through my mind.

As we reach a climax in our life, and we approach the edge of not being able to pay our bills and possibly losing our house, I find a lot of people asking me how I'm able to stay so positive. The truth is, I'm not always positive. In fact, there are days where I have to use all my strength to fight back the bitterness and rage. Some days, the bitterness wins.

This passage is about those moments, where I do my best not to let the darkness in...

The Dark Place


There's a dark place inside my mind, but I dare not go there.

I must not go there.

It's in the dark place that I allow myself to embrace the anger and the bitterness.

Why did God let me lose my job? Why has God not provided a new and real source of income? Why do I tuck my tail and hang my head in shame, taking handouts and "God bless yous," while evil men are made to look like heroes in newspaper articles?

Where is the justice? Why have I gone unavenged?

These are the questions that I ask in the dark place, but I dare not go there.

I must not go there.

I want to forgive those who have deeply wounded me. I want to smile and say thank you to Jesus for His mercy and grace, and for the provisions we do have.

I want to watch my perfect wife as she sleeps, and to look past her and see my perfect baby boy, sleeping, on the baby monitor, and to weep with gratitude that I have them in my life.

But I feel my heart growing hard. And I remember that my perfect wife and baby boy have gone without.

I...have gone without.

What if I lose my house? MY HOUSE! This was what I worked my whole life for, and yet, it seems my dream is crumbling, right before my very eyes!

Those are the ghosts that haunt me in the dark place. But I dare not go there.

I must not go there.

But I tiptoe closer to the boundary, daily. I toy with the idea of letting my guard down and allowing the darkness to enter in, just for a moment.

My heart races from the emotions I'm feeling. A deep and quiet rage stirs below the surface. You can't see it, but it's there. It never leaves me, nor does it forsake me.

I want to stop passersby and scream into their faces that it isn't fair.

I want to fire off violent rounds into the air, so that the sky might feel my wrath.

I want to run until my lungs exhaust and curse the air as it betrays me too.

Those are the desires and whims of the dark place. But I dare not go there.

I must not go there.

500 Diapers to Show God's Provision

Photo by Creative Commons user dhinivh

Last week was a really tough week.

Specifically, because I posted a very humbling post about how Kim and I have recently had to go on Food Stamps. 

I didn't post it because I wanted people to give us anything or feel sorry for us. I just needed to air things out a little bit. People were gracious in accepting in their response to the post. It was nice to feel like we weren't alone, but I admit, I still did a fair amount of wallowing in my own bad feelings about the whole ordeal.

It's easy to wonder where God is in all of this. It's easy to be jealous of other people and angry, in general.

I was feeling all of those emotions, and then on Sunday, I felt silly about all of it.

At church, our small group decided to bless us by buying us a ton of diapers. I'm not even sure the exact amount, but seriously, it was hundreds of them.

We were sort of overwhelmed about it. It just was humbling to see that people really did care about us, and that God was providing for our needs.

There's still a tough row to hoe. I'm not sure how we're going to make it through the next month. We might lose our house. That's a real possibility.

But, today, I'm grateful, and I'm reflecting on what I do have.

Bearded Bloggers Update: Week 2

That's me. Two weeks into "No Shave November." It itches. I'm not to the embarrassing "getting crap stuck in my beard" phase yet, but we're getting close.

I can feel it.

I probably would have shaved it by now, but every time my shaving hand (is that a real thing?) gets itchy, I remind myself that this is for a good cause.

If you're new here, or you forgot, that good cause is Charity Water, a foundation that raises money to provide clean drinking water for people in developing countries.

Our goal is to raise $1000 by the end of November. It's looking good. At the times this post is being written, we've raised $565, so we're more than 50-percent of the way there (hooray, math!).

Here's the danger.

Because we've done so well, so fast, we run the risk of getting complacent. It's been four days since anyone has given a dime to the campaign. That's too long.

So, I need you guys to help in the following ways:

1) Give a few dollars. Seriously. Give five bucks. You won't even miss it, and every little bit helps.

2) Share this with as many friends as possible. At the bottom of all of my posts are SHARE buttons. Share it on Twitter and on Facebook. Email this link to friends who you think might give a couple bucks.

If we could get this knocked out BEFORE the end of the month, I'd be super excited. Why should we settle for $1000? We can do more if we put our minds to it.

So far, a few of you have really gotten behind this, but I'm humbly asking the rest of you to do your part. Help me do this. Just give a few bucks and get your friends to do the same.

GIVE BY CLICKING HERE!

Friday Funhouse: Fri., Nov. 9, 2012