You don't always die from tobacco.

Sweet Lord of Hosts

Everybody needs somebody

Just a short update...

I blogged about my boy Bao Xishun saving the lives of dying dolphins back on December 27th. I also mentioned that the 7 foot 9 inch "Don Juan" was looking for a wife. Sorry ladies, he has been roped, hog tied and put out to pasture. A few days ago Bao married 5 foot 6 inch Xia Shujian. We now know there is someone for everyone.

I mean everyone...

aaaaawwwww

New Blog Motivation

I think I am going to need to start laying down a blog on a more regular basis. If nothing else, a hodgepodge of thougts, regurgitated readings and ridiculos expereinces; if for no other reason than to keep my wife from having to hear ALL of my absurd rantings on all of the stuff I inhale throughout the day.

Here are a few things that have risen to the top with me in the past few weeks.

First off, a self centered chart topper:

I spend way too much time in my own head. I don't know how many people stll watch Scrubs,

I think it's beginging to fade off the radar. I still dig it, but I seem to have an un canny knack to build an affinity for shows that are doomed for cancelation. i.e. Studio 60, 4 Kings and Boomtown

If you can relate > http://www.brilliantbutcanceled.com/

All that to say, on Scrubs, half of the show is Zach Braff's inner monologue. I feel like that's me. Not so much with the hip moosed hair and awkwardly big lips, but I live in my head. I'm not sure what that's all about. If I read something engaging, I will walk circles around it in my head for hours. I do that with conversations as well. I don't have an obsessive desire to go back and change what I did or didn't say, I just run the replay. Now I'm trying to figure out why I felt the need to write this?

Back story on my second life revelation:

John Piper hosts an annual Pastors conference in Minnesota each year. I have never been, and now that it has become the trendy thing to do, not sure if I can force my anti commonplace/rebellious/cynical/jaded ego to make the pilgrimage. I have a hard enough time reading his books. Not because the man isn't a humble genius and his understanding and interpretation of scripture blows my freaking skirt up, but because I wanna vomit due to the fact that the 20 something ministry types sip coffee and regurgitate his personally theology like it's their own then attempt to judge me because I won't take part in that thrill a minute keebler elf mental giant exchange. I'm a jerk. Anyway, I have allowed myself to sidetrack.....imagine that.

Piper preaches biographical sermons at the conference, and before Amazing Grace came out I listened to his sermon on William Wilberforce. Piper justly refers to Wilberforce as a "Big Soul". I have been camped out with that term for over a month now. I let that term marinate as I read through the book of Hebrews. The author of Hebrews lists of their hall of Fame of big souls in Hebrews 11.

As I read the stories of these big souls, taught my students the 3 references to Abraham in the hall of faith and marveled at Moses and Noah, I have been burdened to surround myself with Big Souls.

I sat with Uncle in New Mexico two weeks ago whose body is rapidly giving way to cancer overrunning his body . I actually sat between my dad and my uncle, who is my dad's oldest brother. I listened as they told stories of growing up in the depression with no running water, electricity or assurance of the next meal. Memories of picking cotton at the age of 6, and CONSTANT references to the grace, deliverance, sovereignty and power of God.

Dan Collier (My Dad) Home Collier (My Uncle)

Big Souls.