What is Stress?

Stress is knowing I’ve got one week to pull off something that is way over my head and the one day I set aside to double check the functionality of everything ends up a total wash and I’m starting to think I’ve forgotten something really important but once I figure it out it will be too late and I’m going to miss three good working days next week playing a school retreat that I’m excited about but feel like I’ll be distracted the whole time and wonder if all my prep work was enough to make sure what I am responsible to get done actual does what I said it would do and costs somewhere in the ballpark of the budget I was given and wonder how much more family can handle before they drop the rock and I’m left wondering if in five years any of this will be worth it. Yeah…I’m pretty stressed.

Then I meet a random stranger who hands me my Longhorn’s To-Go order and asks me if I’m going to be leading worship this Sunday. In the short conversation we had, she told me how much she has enjoyed going to Oak Leaf, how a lot of her co-workers have jeered her for going to the “crazy church,” and how she still invites them anyway. In fact, she has even had a few change their minds after visiting with her and now also attend the “crazy church.”

What is stress? Stress is what you deal with and blow off to bring excellence to the work God has called you to do.

I Need a New Picture

The past few days have been intersting. I can’t even begin to tell you all the amazing things God has been teaching me these past couple of weeks. I literally am a new man. Conviction and humility have brought me to a place I have never been before. Much of it has grown out of my journaling and blogging here on Myspace. At the same time, a new realization of who I am to be in Christ has awakened a discipline and commitment to become that person as soon as possible.

Let me give you the basics. I’ve been running 2-3 miles almost everyday for the past three weeks. I have a goal to lose 50 pounds before the end of summer. I ate a whole apple, skin and all, for the first time the other day and have been slowly getting used to carrots and broccoli. For those who know me best, that is a big change in my dietary habits. I’ve all but given up fast food and sodas. I drink about a gallon of water a day. My song writing has increased. My Bible study has increased. My prayer life has increased. And I shaved my head.

Did you catch that last part? The short answer to why is simple. I had some skin moles removed that would have required me to shave some small sections of hair, and I didn’t want to have random bald spots on my head. The long answer, as I stated earlier, would take more than a simple blog post to go into all God is teaching me and challenging me to do right now. But I did shave my head and I should probably update my Myspace picture since it doesn’t look like I’ll be growing it back out anytime soon.

This personal journey I am on is not only challenging and invigorating, it is also eye opening and emotionally stressful. God has been good to my family and me. I am so blessed to have a relationship with the creator of the universe whose provision and grace has not overlooked this particular sinner. Nevertheless, I still need prayer. Pray my discipline and commitment are not overshadowed by my weaknesses and busy schedule.

Need Help

I’ve got to be honest with you. Sometimes I get so much out of these verses on worship I feel like I could write for hours. However, going back and reading the last couple of entries has shown me my best efforts to keep it as simple as possible is not doing what I want to say justice. In other words, I need to work on my writing skills. So I’m asking a favor. If you read something that doesn’t make sense or maybe needs a little more clarification, send me and email or comment. This will help me learn to organize my thoughts better and see areas I need to improve.

Thanks