Monday, June 27, 2011

Questions Prevent Burning Powder

Warning: The following post contains WTMI (Way Too Much Information). You've been warned.

Questions prevent burning powder. Those seem like random words, but they are oh so dom. What is dom you ask? Dom is the second half of the compound word random. The first half is ran which means "To move around in a hurried direction." The second half is dom which means "A title prefixed to the names of some Roman Catholic dignitaries and Benedictine and Carthusian monks." In other words, after you read this post "Questions Prevent Burning Powder" will make complete sense.

I've been jogging with a friend of mine. I always like jogging with other people better than by myself. It makes the time go by faster and it allows me to get to know someone better. Well, this particular friend started off the jog by telling me about Gold Bond Medicated Powder. He said that it feels really nice and that he used it after a shower. At first I was a little weirded out that we were talking about after shower powder, but then I started thinking about it. This guy is a runner. He runs races. Maybe he is on to something, and he's just sharing his knowledge with me. Later that night I asked Monica to pick me up some from the store.

A few weeks later I had my very own bottle of Gold Bond Medicated Powder. I quickly learned that I should have asked more questions about this powder. I discovered instantly that...
  1. I don't have a fat clue how to put on after shower powder. My bathroom looked like a winter wonder land exploded. Powder goes everywhere when you try to put it on.
  2. He didn't tell me that it burned like Fabio holding a blowtorch and attacking a tub of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter.

So now I have a quandary. Do I keep using this burning powder that turns my bathroom into the North Pole, or do I throw away an entire bottle minus one use? Or I could strike up the nerve to ask this friend about the powder and pray it's not too weird of a conversation.

I often don't ask the right people the right questions. I tend to learn from mistakes. I think it's great to learn from our mistakes, but it is less painful to seek wise counsel.

The Bible says, "Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them." Hosea 14:9 (NIV).

Did you catch the end of that verse? If you find yourself stumbling, could it be that you are not asking the right people the right questions? When we seek out wise counsel and ask them the right questions we can learn to become wise.

I wish that I did this more. There have been many times when I am faced with a situation that I seek wise counsel. I believe with all my heart the truth in this verse, "Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm." Proverbs 13:20. When you seek wisdom you will find it. When you hang out with fools you will suffer harm.

Before you date someone, get married, have kids, take a job, move to a new house, or make any major or minor decision you should seek wise counsel. I wish I would have thought of this before my adventure with the after shower powder.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being never and 10 being always, if you're honest, how good are you at seeking wisdom?

25 comments:

  1. You should ask, probably an awkward conversation. Just think, its Christmas in July when you put it on.

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  2. It probably won't be that awkward since he brought it up...but if the burning isnt normal and that's just you...seriously awkward!! Haha

    Enjoyed spending time with your wife and sweet babies yesterday...thanks for sharing them!!

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  3. I'd give myself a 5 on the seeking wisdom scale, I don't normally like to ask for advice, but when I do get advice from wise people I think I generally follow it.  Now, regarding Gold Bond, many years ago I was in some training for about a month in Texas in July, it was hot, and we did a lot of physical activity.  Gold Bond was like manna from heaven, except it wasn't food and it wasn't from God, but otherwise very much like manna.  I was a Gold Bond virgin before I got there, as were many others, about a week into the training our team motto became a nifty little call and response that went "I can feel it tingle ... that's because it's working ... I can feel it burning ... that's because you used too much!"  And finally, speaking of TMI, don't let it hit the tip.

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  4. This is going to sound pathetic, but I generally don't seek out wise counsel because I don't have too many friends with which to share. Also, the few friends that I do have are not really long-time, super-close friends. I don't want to freak them out with my issues and problems. Thus my score would be pretty low. However, at several crucial intersections in my life, the advice/counsel of friends kept me afloat when I would have sunk to the bottom otherwise. Anyway, Gold Bond powder, I read that it was just floor sweepings from nuclear power plant reactor rooms. Use at your own risk. "It's tingling because it's mutating my DNA!".

    (Great talking to you in person yesterday ... Blessings)

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  5. Daniel, thanks for sharing. That's were a lot of friendships start. Sharing life. Oh and the second half of your comment was really funny.

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  6. Sirvhim, that was ha-larious. Thanks for the comment.

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  7. Probably a 9-10.  I really believe "in the counsel of many, there is wisdom."  I think Christian friends who know us well speak truth in ways we understand.  It is still up to us to weigh the advice and seek godly direction.  There are times that God leads us in ways that may not logically make good sense, but builds our faith.  At any rate, when seeking wisdom, always, always ask your Mother.  Gently shake powder into one hand and carefully apply only to affected area while standing on a towel. 

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  8. I would be a 10 probably. I have a few different people I seek councel from. I think its good to have a few people you can got to. Anywhere from finances to faith. Good stuff Rob.

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  9. I'm going to cheat and say "5" because it depends on the situation and who is available.  If I think the situation merits seeking wisdom and the right person is available i will head that way immediately.  If not, I will pray, hold my nose, and wade right in (unless I am too weirded out to pursue it).    As for the powder, I use Shower to Shower Sport.  Sprinkle in small doses with your hand close by.  As for the other areas, use your own judgment.  LOL 

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  10. -3.  (I can be stubborn.)

    It's a good thing you threw in "if you're honest," too.  Otherwise I would have proclaimed myself a 37.

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  11. Is that a negative 3? I think you are being too hard on yourself.

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  12. Bill, not a cheat. I understand what you are saying.

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  13. Thanks for the advice, but that's weird coming from my mom.

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  14. I'm about a 5 probably - too proud to ask for advice or wisdom - but I'm learning as more and more people are asking it from ME!  Good grief how did I ever get into a situation so bad that I actually have a testimony and wisdom?  By the way - I think the powder goes in the creases where you sweat - to keep the skin from chaffing - that's just me though :)

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  15. +1 for a Fabio post.

    On a scale, probably a 6. I say that because generally speaking I'm pretty good at seeking out other people's advice (especially on bigger things - house, family, cars, etc, etc).... but when it comes to smaller stuff, I'll tend to be inward focused.... and try to do things myself. Not always the best thing.

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  16. Probably.

    By the way, I thought "Questions prevent burning powder" was going to have something to do with vintage firearms or something.

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  17. Bahaha!  Rob Shep, I love you dude!  You made me laugh out loud with this today. I have a couple stories for you next time we hang bro.

    //TC//

    --Terrace Crawford
    www.terracecrawford.com
    www.twitter.com/terracecrawford

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  18. Terrace, thanks bro. Let's grab lunch soon.

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  19. I hear ya. I'm in that same boat.

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  20. Cindy, I hadn't heard that. Interesting.

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  21. I'd have to say - 3

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  22. Hey, good advice is good advice, way to go robshep.Mom!

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  23. Thanks for sharing. It's not easy to ask for wisdom.

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  24. I'm probably a 10 on seeking council, but is it wise council?  There are people I see on a daily basis through my job. Sometimes I will ask their opinion just to get some kind of feedback, whether they have wisdom on the subject or not. But if I know someone is really good at something I want to be good at, I've never been too proud to ask them for advice to better myself. As far as Gold Bond, I'm a fan, but only in the summertime when I'm exercising or working. Don't throw it away man, it's good stuff.  

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  25. Good post.  3...  tops...  unless you count reading about something, then I'm an 8. 

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